Final answer:
Abstraction is the process of simplifying complex details into a manageable model to enhance understanding and reasoning about complex concepts.
Step-by-step explanation:
Abstraction is a way to think about something, which removes or hides complex details. This cognitive process helps us by creating a model representation of a concept that is often too intricate or unwieldy to understand in full detail. By focusing on the essential aspects and setting aside less critical details, abstraction allows us to manage and reason about complex systems. It can be compared to using heuristics, which are mental shortcuts that simplify decision-making. In education, this form of conceptual simplification aids in grasping sophisticated topics like modern physics, facilitating a better understanding of subjects such as relativity and quantum mechanics. Moreover, children utilize abstraction when they sort information, forming generalizations and propositions reflective of logical and mathematical reasoning.