Divergent Thinking
To think logically is a great approach to problem solving but sometimes, creative thinking is necessary to get deeper into a problem. Divergent thinking, a thinking approach to deal with any problem creatively has been discussed further.
What is Divergent Thinking
It is a method or process of thinking that aims to generate a lot of ideas about a single topic in a relatively short span of time. It is like a creative approach to problem solving. To seek answers to any question by this thinking process, one breaks a question into smaller parts and then information about each part of the question is randomly collected. Once various aspects of the topic are covered, all of them are combined to arrive at a definite answer. Hence, in this form of thinking, free-flowing and spontaneous ideas are randomly generated and using them, one comes to a definite answer. To think on a divergent pattern of thoughts, one is encouraged to think on any problem based on 'how', 'why', 'when', 'where' and 'what'. As per psychologists, it is not only the convergent thinking skills that are important in problem analysis but also creative thinking skills. Hence, creativity is the hallmark of this form of thinking. An excellent creative ability is judged by a person's innate ability to come up with a large number of ideas, both simple and complex in nature.
Vital Elements of Divergent Thinking
Presented below are some of the most basic elements involved in divergent thinking on any topic.
| Basics of Divergent Thinking | |
| Skill | Description |
| Authenticity | An ability to create completely fresh and original ideas is the hallmark of a creative potential. There must be no imitation, at all. |
| Imagination | To come up with innovative and different ideas. To think out of the conventional approaches and produce something absolutely wonderful. |
| Inherent Curiosity | An innate curiosity to ask questions, do research, understand people and observe cultures. Curiosity leads to more awareness about numerous aspects of life and hence triggers more creative ideas. |
| Calculative Risk Taking | An adventurous and risk taking attitude that helps in taking quick decisions to incorporate innovative ideas. |
| Simplification | To solve any problem creatively, it is must allow to simplify a complex problem into sets of simpler problems. Multilayered ideas can be presented in simpler aspects. |
| Flexibility | Creative problem solving involves thinking about one concept into many ways. That is one aspect of the problem may have many solutions. |
| Fluency | An ability to generate many ideas simultaneously. |
| Elaboration | To develop few ideas into sources of numerous other ideas and thought patterns. |
In the recent years, there has been a lot of emphasis on developing divergent thinking skills in children and candidates applying for jobs. Brainstorming, mind mapping, free writing and keeping a journal are some adequate exercises for developing the inherent creative skills in out personality. In fact, habits like journal writing help us to solve problems in an effective manner as we critically analyze problems by considering various pros and cons of a situation. Moreover, mind mapping habits trigger our brain cells to analyze numerous options to solve a problem and hence our creative thinking skills develop gradually.
It is a fact that any question that triggers your imaginative power and thinking skills, helps you to develop creative skills. For example, a question that can trigger you to think creatively is, make as many sentences as you can by using the word, 'knot'. Many firms use divergent thinking test to gauze in the creative potential and thinking abilities of candidates during aptitude exams. Divergent thing is really helpful for people in advertising, marketing and similar creative fields as this pattern of thinking helps professionals to take better decisions.
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