Table of Content

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1. INTRODUCTION 2

2. DEFINITION 3-6

3. CHARACTERISTICS 7-10

4. EXAMPLES 11-13

5. ADVANTAGE AND DISADVANTAGE 14

6. CONCLUSION 15-16

7. REFERENCES 17-18

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1.0 INTRODUCTION

In Cambridge dictionary, thinking is the activity of using our mind to consider

something. In psychology dictionary, thinking is a mental behaviour wherein ideas,

pictures, cognitive symbolizations, or other hypothetical component of thought are

experienced or manipulated. In this sense, thinking is inclusive of imagining, recalling,

solving problem, free association, daydreaming, concept formation, and a variety of other

procedure. In daily life, we use our thinking skills when we try to make sense of

experiences, organize information, make connections, ask questions, make plans or

decide that to do. There are several types of thinking or way to thinking such as creative

thinking, analytical thinking, critical thinking, concrete thinking, abstract thinking,

divergent thinking, convergent thinking, sequential (linear) thinking, and holistic

(nonlinear) thinking. In this assignment, we are focusing on divergent thinking.

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2.0 DEFINITION

In year 1956, the psychologist J.P. Guilford first coined the terms convergent

thinking and divergent thinking. Divergent thinking is a thought process or method used

to generate ideas by exploring many possible solutions. It is often used in conjunction

with its cognitive colleague, convergent thinking, which involves bringing facts and data

together from various sources and then applying logic and knowledge to solve problem or

to arrive at one solution, which in some cases is a “correct” solutions. By contrast,

divergent thinking typically occurs in a spontaneous, free-flowing, “non-linear” manner,

such that any idea are generated in an emergent cognitive fashion. After the process of

divergent thinking has been completed, ideas, and information are organized and

structured using convergent thinking.

Convergent thinking

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 Divergent thinking

In other words, divergent thinking are also referred as lateral thinking, is the

process to generate multiple ideas or solution that related to a problem that we are trying

to solve even though those idea might not be able to proceed in real or it is sometimes

obeying the rules. Divergent thinking will not limited the thinker imaginations in solving

problem, as long as the idea proposed are able to solve the following problem, then the

idea will be consider as the results of divergent thinking.

Psychologists have found that a high IQ alone does not guarantee creativity.

Instead, personality traits that promote divergent thinking are more important. Divergent

thinking is found among people with personality traits such as nonconformity, curiosity,

willingness to take risks, and persistence.

There are also positive mood and negative mood of divergent thinking. In a study

at the University of Bergen, Norway, the effect of positive and negative mood on

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divergent thinking were examined. In this study, nearly two hundred arts and psychology

students participated, first by measuring their moods with an adjective checklist before

performing the required tasks. The results showed a clear distinction in performance

between those with a self-reported positive versus negative mood:

“Results showed natural positive mood to facilitate significantly task performance and

negative mood to inhibit it… The results suggest that persons in elevated moods may

prefer satisficing strategies, which would lead to a higher number of proposed solutions.

Persons in a negative mood may choose optimizing strategies and be more concerned

with the quality of their ideas, which is detrimental to performance on this kind of task.”

— (Vosburg, 1998)

A series of related studies suggested a link between positive mood and the promotion of

cognitive flexibility In a 1990 study by Murray, Sujan, Hirt and Sujan, this hypothesis

was examined more closely and "found positive mood participants were able to see

relations between concepts”, as well as demonstrating advanced abilities "in

distinguishing the differences between concepts". This group of researchers drew a

parallel between "their findings and creative problem solving by arguing that participants

in a positive mood are better able both to differentiate between and to integrate unusual

and diverse information". This shows that their subjects are at a distinct cognitive

advantage when performing divergent thinking-related tasks in an elevated mood. Further

research could take this topic one step further to explore effective strategies to improve

divergent thinking when in a negative mood, for example how to move beyond

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"optimizing strategies" into "satisficing strategies" rather than focus on "the quality of

their ideas", in order to generate more ideas and creative solutions.

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3.0 CHARACTERISTICS

According to Guilford (1967), divergent and convergent thinking are two types of human

response to a set problem. Guilford defined divergent or “synthetic thinking” as the

ability to draw on ideas from across disciplines and fields of inquiry to reach a deeper

understanding of the world and one’s place in it. He, thus, associated divergent thinking

with creativity, appointing it with several characteristics.

1. Fluent thinking (the ability to produce a great number of ideas or problem

solutions in a short period of time)

 Generation of lots of ideas

 Thought flow is rapid

 Thinking of the most possible ideas

2. Flexible thinking (the ability to simultaneously propose a variety of approaches

to a specific problem)

 Variety of thoughts in the kinds of ideas generated

 Different ideas from those usually presented

3. Original thinking (the ability to produce new, original ideas)

 Differs from what’s gone before

 Thought production is away from the obvious and is different from the

norm

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 4. Elaborative thinking (the ability to systematize and organize the details of an

idea in a head and carry it out)

 Embellishes on previous ideas or plans (Torres,1994)

 Uses prior knowledge to expand and add upon things and ideas

Convergent Thinking Divergent Thinking

Divergent thinking is the process of

The process of figuring out a concrete
thinking that explores multiple possible
solution to any problem is
solutions in order to generate creative
called Convergent Thinking.
ideas.

In contrast, divergent thinking refers to

It’s a straight forward process that focuses
opening the mind in various directions and
on figuring out the most effective answer
trying out multiple solutions for a
to a problem.
problem.

Its characteristics include

Its characteristics include
 Speed
 Spontaneous
 Accuracy
 Free-flowing
 Logic
 Non-linear

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 Convergent Thinking Divergent Thinking

Methods involved in convergent thinking

Divergent thinking relates to figuring out
also involve recognizing the previously
new procedures to solve a problem despite
tried out techniques and reapplying them
existing solutions.
along with the readily stored information.

Divergent thinking generates its name

from the idea that there are limitless

In mathematics, convergent refers to number of solutions for any given

approaching a definite limit in a series. problem, however unrelated they might

be, which are then spread on the table to

pick out the best one.

Table 1

Based on the Table 1, we can see clearly the characteristics of divergent thinking and it’s

differences with convergent thinking. Divergent thinking are spontaneous, non-linear and

free flowing. Divergent thinking does not following the existed solutions to solve

problem, but it trying to figure out new procedure to solve the existing problem.

Divergent thinking required thinker to open their mind to generated out as many as

possible method and then pick out the best one to solve the problem.

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The other characteristic of divergent thinker is :

 Intuitive

 Subjective

 Emotional

 Imaginative

 Impulsive

 Holistic

 Free-wheeling

 Qualitative

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4.0 EXAMPLES

The examples below shows the difference of convergent and divergent thinking:

Example 1:

Convergent: Variety of tests, such as multiple choice tests, standardized tests, quizzes,

spelling tests and similar other tests require convergent thinking, because only one

answer can be 100% correct.

Divergent: Divergent thinking wouldn’t be applicable in multiple choice tests or

standardized tests, which require a single absolute answer.

Example 2:

Convergent: A convergent thinker would only regard a person be either sick or healthy.

Divergent: A person can be both sick and healthy. For instance, a man can be under great

stress mentally but perfectly fit physically.

Example 3:

Convergent: A medical student can be either a doctor or nothing.

Divergent : A medical student doesn’t always have to be either a doctor or nothing. She

could very well make a career switch in the future and be a writer, or a painter, and

varieties of other possibilities.

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Example 4

Convergent: The answer procured by such type of thinking is either completely right or

100% wrong, which might not always be the best possible way to go about. Convergent

thinking only considers the world as Black and/or White, with no other possibilities.

Divergent: The world isn’t always Black and/or White, and a divergent thinker keeps the

options open.

Example 5:

Convergent: A convergent thinker is exactly what the circumstances demand in various

situations, such as standardized tests.

Divergent: Divergent thinker isn’t always able to pin-point the right answer. For instance,

in a standardized aptitude test, a convergent thinker might be able to decide the right

answer, but the contemplating mind of a divergent thinker might work against him in the

situation.

Example 6:

Convergent: Mr. A’s home is at a distance of five miles from work. His Chevrolet gets 30

MPG. However, he wishes to expend less fuel in his travel for both monetary and

conservation-associated reasons. Money is not an issue. Which three vehicles are the best

replacements for his car?

Divergent: Mr. A’s home is at a distance of five miles from work. His Chevrolet gets 30

MPG. However, he wishes to expend less fuel in his travel for both monetary and

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conservation-associated reasons. Money is not an issue. What choices does he have to cut

his fuel consumption?

Discussion: Both examples would result in important outcomes. The trigger for the

convergent example could be some other problem – maybe his car was totaled, and he

only had a weekend to find an answer to the problem. More time may be required to

investigate the divergent example. However, it could still be possible to find an option

that is entirely different from what the user asked – like devise a vehicle that runs off of

air, or start a new business from home.

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5.0 ADVANTAGE AND DISADVANTAGE

Unlike convergent thinking, divergent thinking relates to figuring out new

procedures to solve a problem despite existing solutions. This process opens new doors,

so to speak, instead of choosing the predetermined ones. Divergent thinking generates its

name from the idea that there are limitless number of solutions for any given problem,

however unrelated they might be, which are then spread on the table to pick out the best

one.

It’s also an essential aspect of creative thinking. You do not simply land on the

best possible solution out of chance or luck every time. Creative process involves

plucking out varieties of potential results, leading to formation of new ideas, and the best

solution is chosen then after, which can be deemed as the result of creativity.

Advantage of divergent thinking

 A divergent thinker doesn’t always see the world as Black and/or white. There is

more to it. Not every question has to be answered in a yes/no. A divergent thinker

is broad minded and isn’t focused on finding the absolute answer every time, but

rather he/she is more focused on keeping the options open.

 Not being linear towards finding a solution leads to higher creativity.

Disadvantage of divergent thinking

 Divergent thinker isn’t always able to pin-point the right answer. For instance, in

a standardized aptitude test, a convergent thinker might be able to decide the right

answer, but the contemplating mind of a divergent thinker might work against

him in the situation.

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6.0 CONCLUSION

Divergent Thinking is thinking outwards instead of inward. It is the ability to

develop original and unique ideas and then come up with a problem solution, achieve an

objective and make well thought out decisions.

Einstein was a strong divergent thinker. He asked simple questions and then did

mental exercises to solve problems. For example, as a young man Einstein asked himself

what it would be like to ride on a beam of light.

It took him many years of “thought experiments,” however the answer helped him

develop the special theory of relativity. Thought experiments are imagined scenarios to

understand the way thing are.

Years later, Einstein improved on this theory to take gravity into effect in his

equations and came up with the general theory of relativity. Many physicists are still

stunned by Einstein’s ability to come up with his general theory concept using thought

experiments.

"Imagination is more important than knowledge.

For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand,

While imagination embraces the entire world,

And all there ever will be to know and understand" Albert Einstein

Last but not least, we should think wisely when solving a problem. Sometimes

problem might not come with an unique solutions, it required thinker to think out of the

box in order to obtain the best solutions. A thinker with divergent thinking normally

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couldn’t easily understand by others due to their free flowing ideas, but we cannot deny

that they are the excellent idea generators.

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7.0 REFERENCE

1. Vosburg, Suzanne K. (1998-04-01). "The Effects of Positive and Negative Mood

on Divergent-Thinking Performance". Creativity Research Journal. 11 (2): 165–

172.

2. Isen, Alice M.; Daubman, Kimberly A. (1984-12-01). "The influence of affect on

categorization". Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 47 (6): 1206–

1217.

3. Isen, Alice M.; Johnson, Mitzi M.; Mertz, Elizabeth; Robinson, Gregory F. "The

influence of positive affect on the unusualness of word associations". Journal of

Personality and Social Psychology. 48 (6): 1413–1426.

4. Murray, Noel; Sujan, Harish; Hirt, Edward R.; Sujan, Mita. "The influence of

mood on categorization: A cognitive flexibility interpretation". Journal of

Personality and Social Psychology. 59 (3): 411–425.

5. Marzieh88.(2014, October 25). Method of Thinking. Retrieved from

https://marziehshafiee.wordpress.com/2014/10/25/methods-of-thinking/

6. The Power of Divergent and Convergent Thinking: Guide Your Group’s Thinking

Process To New Height of Productivity. Retrieved from

https://www.smartstorming.com/the-power-of-divergent-and-convergent-

thinkingguide-your-groups-thinking-process-to-new-heights-of-productivity/

7. Psychestudy. Divergent Thinking. Retrieved from

https://www.psychestudy.com/cognitive/thinking/divergent

8. Cambridge Dictionary. Thinking. Retrieved from

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/thinking

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9. Nugent, Pam M.S. (2013, April 29). Thinking. Retrieved from

https://psychologydictionary.org/thinking/

10. Business Dictionary. Divergent Thinking. Retrieved from

http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/divergent-thinking.html

11. Difference Between Divergent Thinking and Convergent Thinking. Retrieved

from http://www.differencebetween.net/science/psychology/difference-between-

divergent-thinking-and-convergent-thinking/

12. Psychestudy. Convergent Vs Divergent Thinking. Retrieved from

https://www.psychestudy.com/cognitive/thinking/convergent-vs-divergent

13. Factory Schools: Killing Divergent Thinking?. Retrieved from

https://independentlyhappykids.wordpress.com/2014/02/24/factory-schools-

killing-divergent-thinking/

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