A concept is a mental representation that forms the base of human thought. Thinking involves mental representations that are either mental images or concepts. When we think, our thinking is based on words or concepts.

Concept formation plays a crucial role in the thinking process. It helps us in organising our knowledge so that whenever we need to access our knowledge, we can do it with less time and effort. This organisation is similar to arranging things systematically at home or books in a library.

Concepts make our thought process quick and efficient. By forming concepts, we are able to categorise objects and events systematically. This categorisation allows us to retrieve information quickly without struggling to find specific information, just as organised children find their books and accessories easily when they keep them in specific places.

Concepts serve as fundamental building blocks of thinking, enabling us to manipulate and analyse information effectively. They allow us to go beyond the given information and relate it to our existing knowledge.

Thus, concepts are essential for making thinking a higher mental process. They help in abstracting, reasoning, imagining, problem solving, judging, and decision-making by providing an organised structure to our knowledge.