His Stanford prison experiment was only the beginning of…. The key lies is in how we connect one idea to another. What kind of uses could you come up with if we gave you a toothbrush and a toothpick? Many educational centers do encourage their students to do more than find the right answer. (What can we change in how we have fun? Divergent Thinking Divergent thinking is an important type of thinking in problem solving, and an important concept in psychology. This material may not be reprinted or copied for any reason without the express written consent of AlleyDog.com. ), Eliminate something (What if you get to work a little earlier to make better use of the day? Although Guilford emphasized the importance of training children in divergent thinking, educational institutions have paid little attention to him. Divergent thinking involves artistry which is associated with the right brain while convergent thinking encompasses logical reasoning which employs the left brain. In a society accustomed to mimicking similar skills, there comes a time when large companies begin to value other skills. The content in this publication is presented for informative purposes only. What kind of things could you do with a brick and a pen? Divergent Thinking Definition Divergent thinking, often referred to as lateral thinking, is the process of creating multiple, unique ideas or solutions to a problem that you are trying to solve. Convergent and divergent thinking require two different parts of the brain. Get the word of the day delivered to your inbox, © 1998-, AlleyDog.com. For this we recommend that you contact a reliable specialist. While in many cases, this strategy is useful and necessary, we must admit that real life is complex, dynamic, and imprecise enough that it’s unrealistic to think that problems have only one solution. In general, they’ve prioritized a type of reflection (or rather lack thereof) where the student must use linear thinking, rules, and structured processes to come to the one “right” solution. This is different from convergent thinking which attempts to find a single, correct answer to a problem. Start studying Convergent vs. Divergent thinking. convergent thinking: the opposite of divergent thinking, the capacity to narrow in on the single “correct” answer or solution to a given question or problem (e.g., giving the right response on an intelligence tests) creativity: ability to generate, create, or discover new ideas, solutions, and possibilities This occurs when you take full responsibility…, When a bond you have with someone makes you a better person that is a clear sign that the person…, Psychological debriefing is a quick intervention that takes place the first days after a traumatic event. It's a constant battle against your…, One of the greatest personal achievements you can make is complete emotional independence. Divergent thinking, also referred to as lateral thinking, is the process of creating multiple, unique ideas or solutions related to a problem that you are trying to solve. Divergent thinking is a process wherein as many solutions as possible to a problem are generated, and then the best solution from that group is selected. to generate several possible solutions to a problem. No one kind of thinking is better than another. Divergent thinking takes place in a free-flowing, spontaneous manner and creates varieties of possible resolutions to another problem. If convergent thinking is applied then after, the very best answer can be picked out from the multiple solutions resulted due to divergent thinking. Convergent thinking narrows down multiple ideas into a single solution. In this manner, they are correlated. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. It is a spontaneous, fluid, non-linear mental approach based on curiosity and nonconformity. However, behavioral addictions are equally important to…, Philip Zimbardo is a well-known and controversial social psychologist and researcher. In no sense is this information intended to provide diagnoses or act as a substitute for the work of a qualified professional. What is convergent and divergent thinking in psychology? Start studying Chapter 7 Cognition, Thinking, & Divergent Thinking. Thus, a person capable of offering innovation and creativity can make an attractive candidate. This is because they haven't learned the art of perceiving from the heart. And multitasking is … Divergent th inking typically occurs in a spontaneous, free-flowing manner, such that the ideas are generated in a random, unorganized fashion. With our high-pressure, busy lives, we neglect many of these valuable dimensions. Psychologist Nina Lieberman’s research in the very interesting book Playfulness: Its Relationship to Imagination and Creativity has something very relevant to add to this discussion. Therefore, according this theory, people who use more divergent or lateral thinking will more often use the right hemisphere. The most ingenious people use tree-like thought processes. Divergent thinking is an aspect of intelligence a thought process or method, which is usually applied with the goal to generate ideas. For instance, processes like brainstorming, creative thinking and free writing are parts of divergent thinking applied at the beginning … ), Give it other uses (What is there at work that I could do in a more fun way? You imagine what you desire, you will what you imagine, and at last you create what you will.”. This is … Also called: ‘Thinking … In an abundance of enthusiasm generated post-Sputnik 1, the convergent style of thinking was rapidly equated with typical intelligence. Mark (1991) Divergent Thinking (Creativity Research). In fact, it is also a type of thinking very common in children, where joy, imagination, and a fresh perspective make their reasoning more free. Divergent thinking, or lateral thinking, is about generating multiple creative solutions to the same problem. To understand how this works a little better, let’s see what kind of psychological processes come into play. Therefore, we need to learn how to use true divergent thinking. This symptom can become normal if it happens at…, In our current society, people often associate the word "addiction" with substance abuse. Garrett: Creativity Research, It talks, it whispers, it yells… It expresses itself however it can, or however we let it, sometimes. Ross: “Thinking is a mental activity in its cognitive aspect or mental activity with regard to psychological aspects”. Substitute one element of that idea for another. We can’t see the brain as an entity with clearly separated areas. 2. There is a movement in education that maintains divergent thinking might create more resourceful students. It is very useful in creating something innovative and practicing divergent thinking. Other dimensions that bring ingenuity and vitality to their projects. It typically occurs in a spontaneous, free-flowing, "non-linear" manner, such that many ideas are generated in an emergent cognitive fashion. Divergent thinking is a thought process or method used to generate creative ideas by exploring many possible solutions. All material within this site is the property of AlleyDog.com. Convergent thinking is useful and necessary on many occasions. UK: Vermilion, Divergent Thinking (Creativity Research). Divergent thinking is the capacity to find relationships between ideas, concepts, and processes that, at first glance, lack any similarity. Divergent thinking [edit | edit source]. What…, Processing obsessive thoughts is a tough job. Being aware…, Mom, tell me again about how I was born. Divergent thinking takes place in a free-flowing manner and is spontaneous, which results in multiple possible solutions in short amount of time. Once we have that “idea”, we’ll put it through a series of “filters”. ), Adapt it (What do people do to be less stressed at other workplaces? On the other hand, divergent thinking was equated with creativity and both were not uncommonly presented as … Divergent thinking is the capacity to find relationships between ideas, concepts, and processes that, at first glance, lack any similarity. When it comes to problem solving and idea generation, two ways are commonly cited, namely divergent and convergent thinking strategies. Switching back and forth between the two may not seem like multitasking, but it is a form of multitasking. Following divergent thinking, the ideas and information will be organized using convergent thinking; i.e., putting the … However, it is based on an approach that differs substantially from divergent thinking (Torrance) or divergent production (Guilford)—a Gestalt 5-psychology theory of creativity. The trick is to find ways to be consistent about it by employing both divergent and convergent thinking and the strengths that support them, so that you continue to grow personally. A. What does DIVERGENT THINKING mean? What can I do with a paper clip and a spoon? Lateral Thinking. All ideas are valid for idea stimulation in divergent thinking. 1. In fact, when generating an idea, whether it is ingenious, conservative, logical, or highly creative, we use our whole brain. Summary: Using both Convergent and Divergent Thinking. This is different from convergent thinking which attempts to find a single, correct answer to a problem. Creativity Research, Herostratus Complex: Specialists in the Art of Posing, 3 Strategies to Process Obsessive Thoughts, My Greatest Triumph Is Having Achieved Emotional Independence, When Someone Makes You a Better Person You Know They Should Be in Your Life, Sandro Botticelli: Biography and Metamorphosis of the Soul, Philip Zimbardo, Author of The Lucifer Effect. Convergent thinking is used in accordance with divergent thinking. Their open mind is full of possibilities and unusual, original, and constant idiosyncratic reasoning. Look it up now! The goal of divergent thinking is to focus on a subject, in a free-wheeling way, to think of solutions that may not be obvious or predetermined. People with “flat” semantic networks have mental networks that are much more connected. There are different methods in divergent thinking. © 2020 Exploring your mind | Blog about psychology and philosophy. Rather than presenting a series of problems for rote memorization or resolution, divergent thinking presents open-ended problems and encourages students to develop their own solutions to problems. The name of this test suggests that it is a divergent thinking test, and its acronym (TCT-DP) makes it easy to confuse with Torrance’s TTCT. Basically, it means being able to find connections and relationships between concepts, objects, and ideas that seem unrelated. International: Português | Türkçe | Deutsch | 日本語 | Italiano | Español | Suomi | Français | Polski | Dansk | Norsk bokmål | Svenska | Nederlands | 한국어. Like we said, all of us, regardless of age, can practice and improve our divergent thinking. Divergent thinking in children is an exceptional gift. The amount of new ideas is much higher than in convergent thinking, and the emphasis is placed on the overall picture of a situation, ideas, and problems. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. “Imagination is the beginning of creation. When new, creative, innovative, and vague ideas are presented as a result of divergent thinking; systematic, procedural, precise and time-effective convergent thinking is required to work on the results of divergent thinkers, scrutinize and reach an unambiguous answer. While convergent thinking relies more on logic, divergent thinking relies more on creativity. A cognitive process (a mode of critical thinking) in which a person generates many unique, creative responses to a single question or problem. n (Psychology) psychol thinking in an unusual and unstereotyped way, e.g. That is, sometimes they relate two things to each other that don’t make sense but other networks contribute and an ingenious idea results. http://www.theaudiopedia.com What is DIVERGENT THINKING? However, the real problem is that we’ve been “trained” to only think this way. Divergent thinking is a longer process as compared to convergent thinking. Privacy Policy - Terms of Service. It takes a lot of willpower and discipline. Tell me if you were afraid in those hours before I was born. For example, let’s say we have to come up with an idea for work. On the other hand, divergent thinking expands outward by generating multiple ideas, often thinking like a hacker and using materials in original ways. Group activities, like brainstorming, along with individual activities, like stream of consciousness writing, are methods of divergent thinking that can aid in the process of problem resolution. This exercise takes a lot of mental work. In other words, they are making connections in both sides of the brain, not just one. UK: Vermilion, Runko, A. Please subscribe to my channel: http://bit.ly/spencervideosImagine you have a problem you need to solve and you’re looking for innovative solutions. In many courses aimed at training people in divergent thinking, students are asked questions like the following: At the beginning, it may be hard to come up with even one idea. Therefore, we could also conclude that this type of thinking is also born out of a certain attitude towards life: free, cheerful, nonconformist, open to new experiences…, Bono, Edward (2014) Lateral Thinking: An Introduction. Divergent thinking refers to a way of solving problems wherein a variety of possible solutions are proposed in an effort to find one that works. Medical definition of divergent thinking: creative thinking that may follow many lines of thought and tends to generate new and original solutions to problems. However, some people are capable of coming up with multiple answers and ingenious ideas because they are good at what Edward de Bono calls “lateral thinking”. In the 1960’s J.P. Guilford differentiated and defined convergent and divergent thinking. Through spontaneous, free-flowing thinking, divergent thinking requires coming up … Divergent Thinking A cognitive process (a mode of critical thinking) in which a person generates many unique, creative responses to a single question or problem. Divergent thinking definition at Dictionary.com, a free online dictionary with pronunciation, synonyms and translation. People with “steep” semantic networks are governed more by logic and linear thinking. And in how we work? Psychology Definition of CONVERGENT THINKING: the kind of critical thinking wherein a person examines a quantity of previously developed … Articles and opinions on happiness, fear and other aspects of human psychology. For example: The Scamper technique is another creative idea-developing strategy developed by Bob Eberle. There, the goal is to be able to create new questions. However, our schools and universities still prioritize a very convergent type of thinking in their methodology. However, sometimes that creative potential disappears when children grow up in an educational system that standardizes the mindset of all students, unifying their perspectives. Divergent thinking is important in today’s modern world. Psychologists who are experts in creativity say that people have different mental networks of association: People with “steep” semantic networks are governed more by logic and linear thinking. It is often used for creative and problem solving purposes in conjunction with Convergent thinking. Divergent thinking refers to the ability to generate creative ideas by exploring many possible solutions in an effort to find one that works. Before continuing, it would be good to clarify one idea. Well, we have to be careful with this kind of generalization about lateralization or cerebral dominance. Convergent thinking refers to the ability to put a number of different pieces from different perspectives of a topic together in some organized, logical manner to find a … ), Reform it (What would happen if I dared to…? Divergent thinking goes hand-in-hand with joy, optimism, and inner well-being. Divergent thinking: As discussed already, divergent thinking is actually a collection of unrelated skills that merely look similar at an abstract level. What relationship could there be between the Limpopo River in Africa and Lake Baikal in Siberia? Adventures in Divergent Thinking: Breaking through the inertia of no., by Kathryn Haydon, MSc Dad, tell me about what you felt. Read on and find out how to do it. ), Modify it (How can we work without becoming stressed? The information and ideas obtained as a result of divergent thinking can be structured using convergent thinking to produce a single most effective answer. To do so, we will focus on four areas in particular: Now here are four ways to improve the four areas above: “Synectics” is a term coined by psychologist William J. J. Gordon. Psychologists who are experts in creativity say that people have different mental networks of association: We have all heard about how the right hemisphere of the brain is the creative side and the left is the logical side. Because actually it is a very nuanced process. ). Thinking: . Divergent thinking is the opposite of convergent thinking, which involves solving problems through obvious choices only. ), Now combine everything (What can we do to make our work more fun? We’ve neglected spontaneity, wit, and captivating freedom. So many people see but don't perceive. Having good relationships, being well-rested, and being free of pressure, anxiety, and stress puts you in an ideal position for divergent thinking. Lateral Thinking: An Introduction. This procedure is unorganized and yields unexpected connections. 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