Did you know? Many people with Down syndrome are concrete thinkers. 

Many (but not all) people with Down syndrome think and behave in concrete ways. While this can be very beneficial for some individuals, it can be challenging when it comes to flexibility, generalization skills, and other abstract areas of life. Misunderstandings can also happen when abstract language is used. There is an entire chapter dedicated to concrete thinking and behavior in Mental Wellness in Adults with Down Syndrome by Dennis McGuire, PhD, and Brian Chicoine, MD. Chapter 5 is on concrete thinking and behaving. The book is available as a free PDF in our Resource Library.

Our library also has an article called Misunderstandings Caused by Different Perceptions by Abby Rowley, LCSW, that includes information about concrete thinking.