Synchronous Thinking: Definition, Characteristics, and Examples

Synchronous Thinking: Definition, Characteristics, and Examples

Gerbangindonesia.org – Synchronous Thinking: Definition, Characteristics, and Examples. Many of us live life in the abstract. The abstract referred to here is the origin of living life without caring and without any encouragement to learn the nature of our life on this earth, even though if we practice synchronic thinking there will be many things that we can find there.

We will find a lot of meaningful life lessons. One of them is to learn about the history of the past. The history of the past does not only speak of history in the true sense. However, learn about patterns, events, and so on.

Thanks to synchronic thinking, those of us who are currently experiencing the Covid-19 pandemic can handle it faster. Within two years, Covid-19 began to subside, even though in ancient times deadly pandemics such as Covid-19 had occurred and both killed hundreds of millions of people. At that time, the time of the pandemic could be longer than now.

In other words, the speed of processing and the world’s handling of this pagebluk (pandemic) is due to the benefits of synchronic thinking. So, what is meant by synchronous thinking? You can see the following review.

Understanding the Concept of Synchronous Thinking

Synchronous thinking is taken from the Greek language, which is taken from the word syn which means “with”, and is taken from the word chronos which can be interpreted as “time”. Meanwhile, synchronous thinking in general can be interpreted as a method of thinking about the past based on a coherent analysis.

Synchronic thinking can also be interpreted as a way of thinking that emphasizes the description of a wider space, but is not focused on the time dimension. In general, the concept of synchronic thinking is a science that is often used in branches of science, politics, history, economics, anthropology, to social sciences.

Simply put, synchronic thinking is a method of developing events that occurred in the past. Actually, synchronic thinking can also be regarded as a method of analyzing something that happened in the past. With this synchronic thinking method, it can be said that the analysis carried out will be dissected in a coherent manner. Coherence here is every aspect that can relate to events that occurred in the past. Because every event has a lot to do with it.

An example is the incident on August 17, 1945. The incident alone can be analyzed starting from the scene, the characters in it, the impact that occurred from the event, and various other things. From this one example, it can also be concluded that synchronic thinking can indeed make an event in the past analyzed more broadly.

In addition, this synchronic approach is mostly used in the social sciences. Each analysis carried out with a synchronous approach will remain centered on the same point in time. However, there are several things that are expanded from each of the past events that are being analyzed.

In addition, the analysis using the synchronic approach method also does not try to make a conclusion about something that has happened in the past. However, the synchronic approach only seeks to carry out an analysis of something that has happened in the past.

With these two meanings, synchronic if summed up as a whole means narrowing in time, but expanding in space. Of course, if seen from the previous example the meaning of narrowing in time, but expanding or expanding in space will be easier to understand.

The Meaning of Synchronic Thinking

If you already know the explanation related to the concept of understanding synchronic thinking, it’s incomplete if you don’t discuss the meaning of the synchronic thinking approach to an event that happened in the past.

In general, the meaning of the synchronous thinking approach to an event or events that occurred in the past is to see the actual aspects that affect or are influenced by an event that occurred in the past.

As explained earlier, if every incident or event in the past analyzed with a synchronous thinking approach will still focus on a certain time. However, even though it focuses on one time, the incident can still be dissected broadly, starting from who was affected by the incident, what influenced the incident, what was in it, and various other things.

It turns out, if understood more deeply synchronic thinking is actually very important. With the synchronous thinking approach, every event that has occurred in the past can be shown in comprehensive detail. In addition, the events that have been analyzed can also be used as a current learning method.

Goals of Synchronic Thinking

We live well in the present thanks to the past. The past or history is here to invite us to clean up, evaluate, and fix the system for the better. As for the purpose of synchronic thinking is none other than studying the past (history) by looking at what happened in the past and learning many things from events that have occurred.

In simple terms, synchronic thinking aims to think evaluatively and critically. If from past events there is something good, it can be applied at this time. On the other hand, if past events are lacking, they need to be analyzed and corrected so that they are used appropriately at this time.

The purpose of synchronic thinking is that we study the patterns that occur. For example, once there was an outbreak of bird flu, influenza, malaria, and so on. After a long time, then another similar case emerged, namely the corona virus. The forms of activity or events are different, but the pattern is the same.

Synchronous Thinking

Basically, we have learned the synchronic way of thinking since we were in elementary school. Then studied also in junior high school or even high school. For those who majored in journalism, will also be taught to think synchronously. The method used is 5W+1H or What, Who, When, Why, Where, and How.

However, to understand more about some of the ways needed in the synchronous thinking approach, we will explain again through the paragraphs below which will help make it easier for you when you are going to do an analysis of past events with a synchronic thinking approach.

1. What

Synchronic thinking can be started from the question “what?”. So, we must know what happened in the past? Because the context refers to the past, the form of the question refers to an event that has happened in the past. Because there are so many events that happened in the past, we must determine one scope or one focus. The goal is to make it easier to explore.

2. Who

The word who, which means who, refers to anyone who took part in past events. The people who take part in this will later be analyzed, because they are important figures who give influence.

3. When

Meanwhile, the word when means when. Refer to time information. Be it the time of the incident or the time of the important event that occurred. Without knowing when time occurs, it is difficult to carry out a synchronous thought process.

4. Why

The word why directs us to find the reason why this happened? These reasons will determine the analysis to be used. The word why also refers to aspects that influence events to occur.

5. Whare

The word where is defined where the location/place of the incident occurred. These location clues will also assist in the analysis process.

6. How

While the question word how is more intended to find out how the incident occurred. So, focus more on the method, methodology or sequence/chronology of the story that happened.

After seeing the synchronic way of thinking, it is not difficult. We can start by simply asking 5W and 1H questions. With the help of the 5W+1H, of course, the process of analyzing past events with a synchronous thinking approach will also be easier to do.

Characteristics of Synchronic Thinking

After knowing synchronic thinking, the goals and ways of synchronic thinking, there are characteristics of synchronic thinking. You can see as follows.

1. Studying Historical Events that Happened in the Past

The most prominent feature of synchronic thinking is that it generally focuses on studying historical events. Something that talks about history, is definitely talking about the past. The past referred to here is not the past of the pantan, but the past of state, international or national events that have a public benefit.

2. Emphasizing the Study of Events on Patterns, Symptoms, and Characters

If you pay attention, the characteristics of synchronic thinking can also be seen from the studies raised. The average of the events raised is to analyze the patterns, characters and symptoms that occurred at that time, which can be used as lessons and evaluations for developments in the current era.

3. Horizontal

Synchronic thinking is also horizontal, because it talks about something that has happened in the past.

4. No Comparison Concept

As for other characteristics of synchronic thinking, so when the analysis is carried out, there is no comparison concept. The point is only to study cause and effect, without intending to clash with the same or similar events.

5. The scope of the study is narrower

In terms of scope and scope, synchronic thinking has a narrower study. A narrow study does not mean that it is not good, this is only an attempt to narrow and focus the analysis that occurred at that time.

6. The study is very systematic

The sixth characteristic, synchronous thinking is done systematically. Where the study is really done carefully, thoroughly and orderly. Especially when it comes to history. Where every historical event has a series of times and events.

7. The nature of the study is more serious and in-depth

The characteristics of synchronic thinking can also be seen from its nature. So the nature of the study carried out is in-depth and serious. So that study really wants to find out, and find a solution. Not for games or fads. Moreover, it examines history. Where every history must have a story and a monumental impression.

Those are some characteristics of synchronic thinking. Hopefully, by writing down some of the characteristics above, it will provide understanding and knowledge about synchronic thinking.

Example of Synchronic Thinking

An example of synchronic thinking can actually be seen from the example below. Which tells of past cases about a pandemic that turned out to have happened long ago. It’s just that the form of the virus is different.

First example:

In 430 BC, at that time the Peloponnesian war was going on. The war that took place between the cities of Ancient Greece, Athens and Sparta. Again hit by a pandemic for four years. A third of the citizens and military of Athens died on the seventh or eighth day. The virus was influenza A subtype H1N1, which was later declared a pandemic for 4 years.
In 1918, precisely in early March, the so-called Spanish flu appeared. The Spanish flu completely disappeared in June 1920. The US soldiers arrived in Europe about to go to war, and when they got there they caught the Spanish flu. In no time, the soldiers fell ill. This virus has spread to the Arctic and Pacific islands. The number who died was not half-hearted, it was estimated that 50-100 million people worldwide. That’s why the Spanish virus was declared a pandemic.
From the two stories above, which occurred in different years and different types of viruses, the post-pandemic period was also different. And now in 2020 there is another pandemic that we know as Covid-19. Thanks to past patterns, there is an advantage that can be learned in today’s era, namely the speed of making vaccines. It used to take a long time to create a vaccine. Now, less than a year, a vaccine can be created and reduce the rate of casualties. This is the benefit and importance of historical synchronic thinking.

Although previously explained based on the example above, but so that you can understand better in learning the concept of synchronicity, we provide another example. Quoted from the official Kompas page, here is an example of an approach to synchronic thinking on past events.

Second example:

Judging from an event from 1950 to 1959 even though Indonesia was already independent. However, Indonesia’s economic situation is arguably in a bad state, where the poor economic condition is influenced by several aspects such as.

Agricultural products are the mainstay of export activities carried out by Indonesia.
In the round table conference, it was determined that Indonesia had to bear the economic and financial burden.
At that time the deficit that had to be borne by Indonesia was around Rp. 5.1 billion.
The Dutch government did not pass down enough values ​​to convert the colonial economic system into a national economic system.
The unstable domestic political situation makes it easier for unplanned spending to occur.
The security that exists in the country is not so profitable.
Domestic growth was so great at that time.
From the example questions or cases, it can be analyzed an economic event that occurred in Indonesia from 1950 to 1959 with a synchronic thinking approach. Of course, the results of the analysis carried out will be so easy to help in today’s life.

Conclusion

Those are some reviews about synchronic thinking. Hopefully this little discussion is useful for all of you. From all the explanations above, it can be concluded that synchronous thinking is always focused on past events with a predetermined time. Although the time has been determined, the analysis with a synchronic thinking approach can be expanded according to the aspects that affect the events that occur.

Starting from the aspects that affect the occurrence of the incident to the aspects that are influenced after the incident. Synchronic thinking also has characteristics that you can read about in the previous explanation.

In addition, to simplify the process of synchronic thinking on past events, the 5W+1H method can be used. That way the results of the analysis with a synchronic approach will be more complete.