Secondary Process Thinking

Secondary process thinking is a concept in psychoanalytical psychology that describes a higher level and more mature style of thought.

Primary process thinking is associated with the id and is childlike, dreamy, fantastical, and illogical. It is focused on immediate wish fulfillment and instant gratification. Secondary process thinking is associated with the ego and is logical and more sophisticated. It is causal and consistent with real world thinking. In secondary process thinking concern is focused on the environment and consequences rather than the satisfaction of only the self as in primary process thinking.