Cognitive Pragmatics: The Mental Processes of Communication - Research Paper Example

? Mental Process Paper MENTAL PROCESS PAPER The premise of this paper is to discuss mental processes. The paper seeks to compare and contrast the four styles of creative thinking and how they influence decision making in an environment. It will also seek to discuss the forces that influence mental modes and mindsets, while also including examples of how they limit the process of decision-making. Finally, it will analyze the most commonly used mental modes and mindsets that aid in the process of decision making in the workplace and how they influence decision-making. Mental processes can be defined as the actualization of composite activity that is cognitive. It is an operation, which has an effect on the mental contents of an individual. It can also be seen as the thinking process or the cognitive remembrance operation. Overall, it is all the different things that an individual can do with his or her mind including emotion, volition, reasoning, belief, conception, imagination, creativity, memory, introspection, and perception. 1. Compare and Contrast the Four Styles of Creative Intelligence and their Influence on Organizational Decision Making. Intuition is focused on the production of results and is reliant on experiences in the guidance of decisions (Bara, 2010). Most people consider the implications of comprehending the past as most believe that a majority of mistakes can be escaped if one understands its historical significance. Every organization, from a perspective of business, needs to consider patterns and exhibit caution at every turn. Strategic planning lets organizations prepare for possible scenarios via the forecasting of all outcomes that are possible (Bara, 2010). Some of the biggest successes, as well as failures, can be traced back to reliance on results that are past. Businesses will consider several factors, for example, the market’s current conditions, segmentation, objectives, and experiences that it relates to in the past. The mindset of inspiration is focused on the change in society and the presentation of dedication aimed at changing results (Bara, 2010). People whose working is grounded in this mindset are imbued with positive energy and are able to remain focused, motivated, and logical. Organizations that possess this type of individual are enabled in their ability to visualize situations currently and use that as inspiration to create a positive future outcome. These individuals have the ability to promote change, which could limit the organization in a number of ways (Bara, 2010). They have a tendency to lose focus on everyday functions, as they are highly adept at assessment of the bigger picture. The style of imagination targets artistic individuals, who enjoy writing, and show qualities of strong leadership (Brown, 2006). Individuals with this mindset show the ability to visualize various scenarios. They possess a huge impact in the process of decision making especially in organizations where there are chaotic times since they are able to visualize beyond the current situation, which gives them excellent coping skills for solution for problems. They have an ability that is unique in their ability to remain confident and poised which rubs of on the rest of the organization. They also inspire others allowing them plan for and envision the future. One limitation is that these people are not totally focused on the immediate future, which could be problematic since all aspects should be placed in perspective (Brown, 2006). Individuals using the innovative style tend to stick to the issues before them and on evidence (Brown, 2006). It is the most logical of the styles since it is clearly focused on evidence that is visible like data. However, this makes it impossible to see the organization’s apparent vision, which it is attempting to achieve. Successful organizations need a balance of different mindsets, which are found suited well to different roles. Precision is needed by all industries and organizations thus innovation is vital. This mindset comes with limitations, the most serious being that decisions are made according only to the facts presented (Brown, 2006). On a recurring basis, people use two styles, intuitive and imaginative, since they find themselves facing various situations that are different (Brown, 2006). In business, when working with other people closely, most people utilize intuition. When brainstorming, they use imaginative style, which is the most frequently used. 2. Discuss the Five Forces that Influence Ones Mental Models and Mindsets. Mental modes tend to be larger than business models or technological innovations and are representative of the manner in which an individual looks at society (Brown, 2006). These mental modes are in some cases reflected in business innovations or technology, even though not all innovations are representative of new mindsets and mental modes. While the shift from butter that is not hydrogenated was an innovation of tremendous value, it was only representative of a small change in mental modes and mindsets. Mental modes tend to be deeper and almost invisible. Each aspect of someone’s professional and personal lives are affected by mental modes, as well as the five forces of education, personal experiences, rewards, influence on others and training (Brown, 2006). Education: it shapes individual mental modes and is formative of foundations that mould ones view of the world (Brown, 2006). Scientists are educated to see the world differently from artists. Education is the least visible force that shapes the mindset. Individuals prefer to be around others who share the same background. Training: training that is related to the force of education allows people to learn how to handle tasks that are new and on how to deal with various transitions. A person learning data entry may be taught keyboarding while a musician may be taught how to play a certain instrument. As this force is more visible and specific as compared to education, it is easily transferable (Brown, 2006). Influence on others: Society is influenced by friends, family, books, experts, and mentors (Brown, 2006). These people and their life philosophy and approach to problems act to deeply affect others in the approaching of personal problems and challenges. A child who grows up reading about Mohammed Ali may want to be a boxer. The mass also influences society, as was seen with the 1960s epidemic of rock and roll and drugs. Personal experience: Some scientists and artists are self trained and taught because they have created their own individual style via personal experience, which has enabled them think outside of the box (Brown, 2006). Although these mental modes and mindsets are individually wonderful, they limit the process of decision making because they need to work in collaboration in order to be successful (Peterson, 2005). Education by itself is known as not being an effective tool for decision making because individuals require to be rewarded, influenced by mentors, and learn from personal experience in order to be effective leaders and be team players in the workplace. As an analyst at the help desk, one uses personal experience that is achieved from performing the job for three years and observation and analysis of what is a success and what is a failure with performance of the duties. Via the analysis and observation of data, one can make decisions that are clear on the strategy to be used in performing the duties to one’s utmost ability. References Bara B. G. (2010). Cognitive pragmatics : the mental processes of communication. Cambridge, MA : The MIT Press. Brown J. W. (2006). Time, will, and mental process. New York [u.a.]: Plenum Press. Peterson J. C. (2005). The higher mental processes in learning,. Princeton, N.J: Princeton University Press. Read More