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. A free PDF of the book is available in our Resource Library. Chapter 5 is on concrete thinking and behaving.