We’ve neglected spontaneity, wit, and captivating freedom. All material within this site is the property of AlleyDog.com. 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. People with “steep” semantic networks are governed more by logic and linear thinking. Convergent and divergent thinking require two different parts of the brain. Therefore, we need to learn how to use true divergent thinking. Divergent Thinking Divergent thinking is an important type of thinking in problem solving, and an important concept in psychology. The most ingenious people use tree-like thought processes. Divergent thinking is a thought process or method used to generate creative ideas by exploring many possible solutions. Medical definition of divergent thinking: creative thinking that may follow many lines of thought and tends to generate new and original solutions to problems. We can do it daily by choosing the concepts ourselves. 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. That is, sometimes they relate two things to each other that don’t make sense but other networks contribute and an ingenious idea results. Divergent thinking, or lateral thinking, is about generating multiple creative solutions to the same problem. The content in this publication is presented for informative purposes only. Divergent thinking takes place in a free-flowing manner and is spontaneous, which results in multiple possible solutions in short amount of time. 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. This procedure is unorganized and yields unexpected connections. Start studying Chapter 7 Cognition, Thinking, & 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. In an abundance of enthusiasm generated post-Sputnik 1, the convergent style of thinking was rapidly equated with typical intelligence. n (Psychology) psychol thinking in an unusual and unstereotyped way, e.g. What kind of things could you do with a brick and a pen? ), Modify it (How can we work without becoming stressed? Divergent thinking definition at Dictionary.com, a free online dictionary with pronunciation, synonyms and translation. People with “flat” semantic networks have mental networks that are much more connected. For this we recommend that you contact a reliable specialist. We can’t see the brain as an entity with clearly separated areas. 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”. Being aware…, Mom, tell me again about how I was born. to generate several possible solutions to a problem. In no sense is this information intended to provide diagnoses or act as a substitute for the work of a qualified professional. In fact, when generating an idea, whether it is ingenious, conservative, logical, or highly creative, we use our whole brain. Convergent thinking is useful and necessary on many occasions. 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 the capacity to find relationships between ideas, concepts, and processes that, at first glance, lack any similarity. Thus, a person capable of offering innovation and creativity can make an attractive candidate. 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. 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. Divergent th inking typically occurs in a spontaneous, free-flowing manner, such that the ideas are generated in a random, unorganized fashion. His Stanford prison experiment was only the beginning of…. 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. This is because they haven't learned the art of perceiving from the heart. 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. Divergent thinking in children is an exceptional gift. And in how we work? ). Divergent thinking refers to the ability to generate creative ideas by exploring many possible solutions in an effort to find one that works. Through spontaneous, free-flowing thinking, divergent thinking requires coming up … Their open mind is full of possibilities and unusual, original, and constant idiosyncratic reasoning. The key lies is in how we connect one idea to another. So many people see but don't perceive. For instance, processes like brainstorming, creative thinking and free writing are parts of divergent thinking applied at the beginning … When it comes to problem solving and idea generation, two ways are commonly cited, namely divergent and convergent thinking strategies. Divergent thinking is a longer process as compared to convergent thinking. What can I do with a paper clip and a spoon? What kind of uses could you come up with if we gave you a toothbrush and a toothpick? This event can be…, Today, we'll travel back several hundred years to the Renaissance to learn about Sandro Botticelli, one of the most renowned…, You've probably experienced a sudden (or gradual) loss of appetite before. ), Now combine everything (What can we do to make our work more fun? Thinking: . This exercise takes a lot of mental work. 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. This material may not be reprinted or copied for any reason without the express written consent of AlleyDog.com. Read on and find out how to do it. A. However, behavioral addictions are equally important to…, Philip Zimbardo is a well-known and controversial social psychologist and researcher. 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. Therefore, according this theory, people who use more divergent or lateral thinking will more often use the right hemisphere. There, the goal is to be able to create new questions. What relationship could there be between the Limpopo River in Africa and Lake Baikal in Siberia? It's a constant battle against your…, One of the greatest personal achievements you can make is complete emotional independence. ), Adapt it (What do people do to be less stressed at other workplaces? Psychology Definition of CONVERGENT THINKING: the kind of critical thinking wherein a person examines a quantity of previously developed … Ross: “Thinking is a mental activity in its cognitive aspect or mental activity with regard to psychological aspects”. To understand how this works a little better, let’s see what kind of psychological processes come into play. Having good relationships, being well-rested, and being free of pressure, anxiety, and stress puts you in an ideal position for divergent thinking. Because actually it is a very nuanced process. UK: Vermilion, Runko, A. 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 … International: Português | Türkçe | Deutsch | 日本語 | Italiano | Español | Suomi | Français | Polski | Dansk | Norsk bokmål | Svenska | Nederlands | 한국어. If convergent thinking is applied then after, the very best answer can be picked out from the multiple solutions resulted due to divergent thinking. Creativity Research, It talks, it whispers, it yells… It expresses itself however it can, or however we let it, sometimes. 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 involves artistry which is associated with the right brain while convergent thinking encompasses logical reasoning which employs the left brain. You imagine what you desire, you will what you imagine, and at last you create what you will.”. 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. Other dimensions that bring ingenuity and vitality to their projects. (What can we change in how we have fun? 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. Divergent thinking takes place in a free-flowing, spontaneous manner and creates varieties of possible resolutions to another problem. Switching back and forth between the two may not seem like multitasking, but it is a form of multitasking. 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. In a society accustomed to mimicking similar skills, there comes a time when large companies begin to value other skills. http://www.theaudiopedia.com What is DIVERGENT THINKING? The information and ideas obtained as a result of divergent thinking can be structured using convergent thinking to produce a single most effective answer. “Imagination is the beginning of creation. Divergent thinking is the opposite of convergent thinking, which involves solving problems through obvious choices only. Divergent thinking is the capacity to find relationships between ideas, concepts, and processes that, at first glance, lack any similarity. Privacy Policy - Terms of Service. This is different from convergent thinking which attempts to find a single, correct answer to a problem. 1. And multitasking is … It is a spontaneous, fluid, non-linear mental approach based on curiosity and nonconformity. 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 the 1960’s J.P. Guilford differentiated and defined convergent and divergent thinking. Articles and opinions on happiness, fear and other aspects of human psychology. Divergent thinking [edit | edit source]. There are different methods in divergent thinking. 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. UK: Vermilion, Divergent Thinking (Creativity Research). Get the word of the day delivered to your inbox, © 1998-, AlleyDog.com. 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. Before continuing, it would be good to clarify one idea. Look it up now! This symptom can become normal if it happens at…, In our current society, people often associate the word "addiction" with substance abuse. ), Give it other uses (What is there at work that I could do in a more fun way? 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. 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. Lateral Thinking: An Introduction. 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. In this manner, they are correlated. Once we have that “idea”, we’ll put it through a series of “filters”. What is convergent and divergent thinking in psychology? Well, we have to be careful with this kind of generalization about lateralization or cerebral dominance. 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. Convergent thinking is used in accordance with divergent thinking. With our high-pressure, busy lives, we neglect many of these valuable dimensions. All ideas are valid for idea stimulation in divergent thinking. There is a movement in education that maintains divergent thinking might create more resourceful students. Many educational centers do encourage their students to do more than find the right answer. Lateral Thinking. Adventures in Divergent Thinking: Breaking through the inertia of no., by Kathryn Haydon, MSc 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. 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. © 2020 Exploring your mind | Blog about psychology and philosophy. Mark (1991) Divergent Thinking (Creativity Research). Convergent thinking narrows down multiple ideas into a single solution. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Divergent thinking goes hand-in-hand with joy, optimism, and inner well-being. 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