"I don't see thinking without words as "unconscious" at all. I'm aware I'm doing it; I keep the thoughts in the forefront of my brain and direct my investigatio

"I don't see thinking without words as "unconscious" at all. I'm aware I'm doing it; I keep the thoughts in the forefront of my brain and direct my investigation consciously. Its just not in words at all." That's right. My naming of the thinking "styles" has been suboptimal. I think, that the kids game is just easy enough, that your brain can get the rules and playing it without contorted maneuvers. This isn't unconscious, you're aware of everything, but in a way you just see it, without the need understanding. In a way you're brain understands for you, you don't see the needed steps to get to the understanding. But when something is a lot harder, than your brain can't just understand all at once, then you need to do the steps for "yourself", by talking to you, by explaining it to you, or by reading an explanation, and this explanation is "written" in your brain, so that the next time the brain can do the steps for itself.