Just as there are different kinds of people, there are different kinds of minds. There are individuals who are more thoughtful, others more practical. There are also people who are more open and others who are less flexible and intransigent. Some authors, such as Howard Gardner or Walter Riso, have proposed classifications on the different types of minds.

In this article we will review them and explain what their characteristics are.

The mind, beyond the brain

Our brain is one more organ in our body that contains different structures and millions of neurons coexist in it. However, our mind has neither weight nor size, it is our perception, our consciousness, our ideas, our thoughts…

It is through our mind that we give meaning to our life, and the different types of mind determine how we interpret and relate to our surroundings .

Types of minds

But what are these kinds of minds? In the following lines, we will explain.

Classification of the mind according to Walter Riso

The psychologist and writer, Walter Riso, in his work “The Power of Flexible Thinking”, states that there are three types of mind: flexible, liquid and rigid.

1. Rigid mind

The rigid and inflexible mind is characterized by the intransigence of the individual , who thinks he is always right, they are impenetrable people. Their mental rigidity makes them subjects of immobile thought. In their perception of life, they think they are always on the right track and are alienated from the reality that surrounds them. They are stubborn and possess a great resistance to new beliefs and the opinions of others.

They easily get carried away by prejudices or anachronistic misguided reasoning. Their lack of reflection leads them to thought processes that are distorted because their concepts, deep beliefs and values are biased. They tend to be authoritarian and irascible people. They have a low tolerance for frustration, are susceptible to poor interpersonal relationships, fear uncertainty and can easily become stressed and depressed.

2. Flexible Mind

The flexible mind is the opposite of the rigid mind, for they are open-minded people . They do not see life in a dichotomous way, that is to say in extremes, but they understand it through its different nuances. They have basic beliefs from which they obtain different forms.

They are the typical people who tend to reinvent themselves, grow, update themselves, doubt, reflect and relate to the environment in the present moment. They understand that everyone is wrong and they understand their limits, as well as the problems that can arise throughout life, so they try to solve them. They are people who adapt to change easily and learn from everyday experiences.

3. Liquid mind

The liquid mind is a type of insubstantial mind, which does not possess a solid base . These subjects adapt to their surroundings but do not do so of their own free will, but rather allow themselves to be carried away, as they do not possess a critical spirit or inner strength. They are not consistent individuals, nor do they have points of reference by which to be guided.

The Types of Mind According to Howard Gardner

Howard Gardner, known for his theory of Multiple Intelligences, not only proposed a multifaceted model of intelligence, but this one, in his work “Five minds for the future”, offers a pluralistic vision of the mind .

The author thinks that each person has different styles of problem solving and different minds that have an order of acquisition that depends on the stage of development in which the individual is. The challenge of education is to train people who possess the following types of minds.

4. Disciplined Minds

This type of mind is understood to be disciplined in the sense of not memorizing but understanding and solving problems not previously studied, and in the sense of acquiring habits that allow it to make constant progress in learning and mastering a technique.

The disciplined name can lead to error if it is understood as “methodical”. However, Gardner thinks that schools and colleges study subjects and not disciplines (hence the name). Subjects are simply memorized, but disciplines have to do with a future professional approach.

5. Synthetic mind

This type of mind becomes especially important today, as new technologies can lead to an excess of information. Faced with this excess of information, people with a synthetic mind are able to summarise it accurately and use only that information which is relevant and productive.

6. The Creative Mind

As its name indicates, the creative mind is related to creativity and the ability to be original and to ask new questions on different topics of each discipline. They are people who develop new visions, different from the existing ones.

7. Respectful Mind

This type of mind is key in interpersonal relationships and to create a conducive environment for living together , because it allows you to tolerate differences, be empathetic and show interest and affection for others. Fostering this type of mind is an important part of people’s education and social development.

8. Ethical mind

It is oriented towards the good and towards the values of integrity, collective interest and responsibility that this objective entails. In education it is necessary to create individuals who are emotionally balanced and involved in social needs.

Other types of minds

Other authors have proposed other types of minds. For example…

9. Reflective Mind

There are individuals who have a great capacity for reflection and tend to analyse both their environment and their behaviour or feelings about themselves. This type of person tends to be more creative and emotional, and does not usually fit into monotonous jobs. Instead, they excel in other professions such as writers, painters or musicians.

10. Practical minds

Practical minds are more influenced by the environment and lack critical thinking . They are individuals who adapt to jobs that need less mental stimulation or that require obedience, such as factory workers or policemen.