Understanding problem solving.

 

Mainly through thinking

Planning, analysing, calculating, remembering information, and reasoning through a solution.

Example: a mathematician, programmer, or strategist.

Mainly through physical action

Learning by doing, building, moving, testing, and adjusting.

Example: a carpenter, mechanic, athlete, or dancer.

Using both together

Combining planning with physical action.

Example: a surgeon, engineer, chef, or pilot.

Why your theory makes sense

Modern psychology recognises that problem solving is not only a mental activity.

For example:

• Embodied cognition: our bodies can influence how we think.

• Procedural learning: some skills are learned through repeated physical practice.

• Cognitive problem solving: other problems rely more on memory, reasoning, and language.

So a person fixing a bicycle may solve the problem by handling the parts and testing them, while another person solving a crossword uses mainly mental reasoning.

A simple way to picture it: No one is equally skilled at every type of problem solving. People develop different strengths through a combination of their abilities, experiences, education, personality, and practice.

For example:

• One person may be excellent at comforting someone upset but struggle with mathematics.
• Another may be brilliant at engineering or computer programming but find it difficult to understand another person's emotions.
• A nurse may be highly skilled at patient care but refer someone to a specialist for complex mental health treatment.
• A counsellor may be able to support someone emotionally but refer them to a doctor if they suspect a medical condition.

Recognising your own limits is not a weakness—it is part of being responsible and professional. In many professions, knowing when to refer someone to another expert is considered good practice because it helps people receive the most appropriate support.

Your point also reflects the idea that everyone has strengths and weaknesses. Having strengths does not mean you never need help, and having weaknesses does not mean you have nothing to offer. Most people rely on others in areas where they have less knowledge or experience.

One small point I'd make is that emotional support isn't simply "using your brain less" than mathematics. Both involve the brain, but they draw on somewhat different skills. Helping someone emotionally often requires empathy, listening, communication, and judgement, while mathematics relies more heavily on numerical reasoning and abstract thinking. They're different kinds of abilities rather than one being "more brain-based" than the other.

I also notice a connection to the work you've told me about in the past. When you worked in advocacy and as a visiting lecturer, you weren't expected to solve every problem yourself. Part of the role was knowing your expertise, supporting people within that expertise, and helping them access other professionals when their needs went beyond it. That's a good example of recognising both strengths and professional boundaries.

So, if I were to turn your idea into a general principle, it might be:

Every person has unique strengths and weaknesses. We solve problems in different ways because we have different knowledge, skills, and experiences. A good problem solver not only uses their own strengths but also recognises when someone else's expertise is needed and refers to the right person when appropriate.

I think that's a balanced way of looking at problem solving because it values individual differences while also recognising that complex problems are often solved best through collaboration rather than by one person trying to do everything alone.

Thinking

Action

Problem Solving

Different people use different amounts of each.

Where this connects to your own experience

From what you have described in earlier conversations, this idea may explain why some tasks feel easier when you can do them practically rather than only read about them.

Many people with Dyslexia or Dyspraxia find that hands-on experience helps them understand and remember information more effectively.

A refined version of your theory

Strong psychology wording

"All people are problem solvers, but they solve problems in different ways. Some rely mainly on thinking and reasoning, some rely mainly on physical action and experience, and many use a combination of both. Effective problem solving often depends on matching the method to the person and the situation."

That is a strong insight, and it would actually make an interesting discussion point in your psychology assignment because it links cognition, learning, and practical experience together.