6 Types of Thinking

Instant Access to 75+ Free Resources

Enter your email to unlock this resource and everything else in the free toolkit. No password, no account setup.

We'll email you a login link. Use it anytime to access all free resources.

How a character thinks is who they are. Beyond their skills or strengths, their fundamental approach to solving problems defines their personality and drives their actions. These six types of thinking can be used as building blocks for unique characters. By understanding these different modes, you can create individuals and groups that are more flexible, innovative, and distinct in their approach to the challenges of your story.

The Thinker Archetypes

Systems Thinking

Solve by Understanding

This thinking involves understanding how different parts of a system work together and influence one another. It's about seeing the whole board, not just the individual pieces.

The Character: The Strategist

Strength: The master detective, the political mastermind, the grand admiral who anticipates every move. They solve problems by seeing the connections everyone else misses.
Flaw: Can become cold and detached, seeing people as mere cogs in a machine. They are prone to "analysis paralysis," overthinking a problem instead of acting.

Agile Thinking

Solve by Adapting

This thinking involves a focus on action and continuous improvement. It's about constantly adapting to change and taking a flexible, iterative approach to problem-solving.

The Character: The Survivor

Strength: The resourceful rogue, the scrappy rebel, the grizzled survivor who can make a tool out of anything. They thrive in chaos and think on their feet.
Flaw: Can be purely reactive, lacking long-term vision. Their chaotic, "make it up as you go" approach can frustrate more plan-oriented allies.

Design Thinking

Solve by Creating

This is a creative, empathetic approach to problem-solving that involves understanding the user, prototyping, and iterative testing. It's about building a better solution from the ground up.

The Character: The Builder

Strength: The brilliant inventor, the compassionate community leader, the healer who seeks to cure the root cause of a plague. They solve problems by creating something new and better.
Flaw: Can be a naive idealist or a perfectionist who never finishes their creation. They may struggle to accept that some problems can't be solved with a clever invention.

Game Thinking

Solve by Manipulating

This thinking involves applying principles from games to other domains. It involves setting goals, creating rules, and designing feedback systems to motivate and engage people.

The Character: The Gamemaster

Strength: The charming trickster, the master manipulator, the villain who traps the hero in an elaborate "game" with a set of rules. They understand motivation and leverage.
Flaw: Sees people as pawns to be moved or NPCs in their own story. Their solutions are often exploitative and cynical.

Poetry Thinking

Solve by Relating

This thinking involves using language and communication in creative and expressive ways to relate to others, convey emotions, and generate new ideas through connection.

The Character: The Orator

Strength: The inspiring diplomat, the charismatic bard, the leader who can end a war with a single speech. They solve problems by changing hearts and minds.
Flaw: Can be impractical, "all talk and no action." They may value the beauty of an idea more than its truth or effectiveness.

Revolution Thinking

Solve by Destroying

This thinking involves challenging the status quo and fundamentally changing the way things are done. It requires a willingness to take risks and think outside the box to bring about significant change.

The Character: The Iconoclast

Strength: The passionate revolutionary who tears down a corrupt and unjust system. They are not afraid to break the rules because they believe the rules are wrong.
Flaw: Their "burn it all down" mentality often lacks a plan for what comes next. This thinking can be needlessly destructive, violent, and chaotic.

Plotting with Thinking Styles

Creating Character Foils

The most compelling conflicts arise from a clash of minds. Pit two opposing thinkers against each other to create a deep, ideological struggle.

A Design Thinker wants to build a new, better city, but a Revolution Thinker believes the entire foundation is rotten and must be destroyed first.
A Systems Thinker has a perfect plan, but an Agile Thinker constantly improvises and adapts, throwing the perfect plan into chaos.

Structuring Problems and Solutions

Design your plot's central problems so they can only be solved by a specific type of thinking, making your character's unique mind the key to victory.

A complex political conspiracy can't be solved by force, but only by a Systems Thinker who can see the web of connections.
A war between two sides who hate each other cannot be won on the battlefield. It can only be ended by a Poetry Thinker who can find the common humanity between them.