Divergent Thinking
Divergent thinking is a cognitive method through which creative ideas are generated by going through several potential solutions. It is structured around finding various ways to respond to open-ended questions, thus, it is a fundamental aspect of areas where innovation and problem-solving are required.
Divergent thinking is a vital aspect of creativity as it gives individuals the flexibility to think beyond established norms. It spurs the development of different paths and thus results in the generation of original ideas and ways to do things. A glaring example of this is the brainstorming sessions, where the participants are asked to mention every single thought without any form of evaluation, thereby creating an atmosphere of abundance for the growth of inventive ideas.
Divergent thinking is all about coming up with different, diverse solutions to a given problem, even though convergent thinking is all about finding the best solution among many, thus reducing the choices available. For instance in a creative writing task, divergent thinking consists of think of a lot of possible plots, while on the other hand convergent thinking is the process of selecting the best plot development.
Definitely, divergent thinking is a skill that can be improved via the activities that promote creativity and stay-open-minded. Writing without a tempo, brainstorming, and other creative leisure activities like painting can be services to your brain to think divergently better and more. Moreover, going in for improvisational plays will teach people to react quickly and to wander in the forest of unpredictable thoughts.
Divergent thinking is a valuable tool in many industries such as advertising, product design, and scientific research. For instance, in the advertising field, groups of people can generate a long list of different advertising campaign ideas and, consequently, select the most captivating one. The product designer team has been able to benefit from the divergent thinking processes of the designers to come up with some of the most revolutionary gadgets which are now on the market.