Online resources to advance your career and business. The next time you’re faced with a problem, try this batching technique. The second kind were insight problems, which provided the subjects with certain contextual facts and posed a question to them that called for shedding light on. Copyright 2020 Practical Psychology, all rights reserved. Choose cover letter template and write your cover letter. It is also looking at an idea from many viewpoints. Having said that, an important development in recent years is the increasing acceptance of the fact that real creative production needs both divergent thinking and convergent thinking, and not just the former. However, he wishes to expend less fuel in his travel for both monetary and conservation-associated reasons. Convergent thinking is ideally suited for situations where there exists one best correct answer and it is feasible to determine the answer by way of evaluation of available stored information. Divergent and Convergent thinking skills are both important aspects of intelligence, problem solving and critical thinking. and so 3) which is better? What choices does he have to cut his fuel consumption? Your email address will not be published. These two cognitive approaches, when used appropriately, can be used to solve just about any problem that you face. It doesn’t take long for the whole team to feel very frustrated and exhausted. The first step — Identify the problem — starts the entire process. Convergent thinking questions often require the subject to resolve, explain, identify, or define. That speech assisted with rousing nearly 400,000 NASA staff and contractors to join hands as a cohesive team and achieve one of the best events of history in under a decade. Creative Ability – Creative ability was gauged in a study having both divergent and convergent tasks. You might find yourself coming up with a great solution without frustrations! or enter another. By The Inventium Team February 25, 2013 July 29th, 2020 No Comments. The alterations in brain activity, as they appeared in the EEG, were different for the two kinds of thinking. 2) what is convergent thinking? Join Heather Clark, the Gifted Coordinator for the Licking County Educational Service Center to learn the defining features of divergent and convergent thinking, their strengths, weaknesses, and how to incorporate each type of thinking into classroom instruction. On the other hand, subjects categorized in the considerably convergent thinkers groups were revealed to have higher average grades for the previous school year and less of a problem doing their homework which signifies that their parents pushed them in the direction of post-secondary education. In response, the country set up the National Aeronautics and Space Administration a year later. Sleep deprivation – A 1988 study by J.A. Picture this. E-mail is already registered on the site. Productivity, Mindfulness, Health, and more. {"email":"Email address invalid","url":"Website address invalid","required":"Required field missing"}, Convergent vs Divergent Thinking (Definitions + Examples). And multitasking is not as effective as you may think. However, it may also be the case in an absolute sense. This type of thinking requires you to expand your mind and find innovative solutions. The achievement of this remarkable feat called for the making of a lot of new technologies to design and manufacture the rockets, lunar modules, spacesuits and other necessary equipment. This strategy is best suited for situations characterized by a readily available answer that just has to be worked out or recalled by way of decision-making strategies. While divergent thinking was considered to be good, its counterpart was seen as either bad or a necessarily evil considerably exaggerated in business and schools. 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 … When it comes to problem solving and idea generation, two ways are commonly cited, namely divergent and convergent thinking strategies. This required a considerable amount of divergent thinking. 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. Convergent thinking is mostly rational. Retrieved from https://practicalpie.com/convergent-vs-divergent-thinking/. Results show that two personality characteristics namely Extraversion and Openness were seen to make possible divergent thinking. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. However, they hold more in common than one might realize. Convergent thinking is usually contrasted with divergent thinking, which is defined as searching for a variety of relevant solutions to problems that have many possible answers, such as when one is brainstorming for topics to write about for a poem. His Chevrolet gets 30 MPG. Both examples would result in important outcomes. No personality characteristics were found to be associated with convergent thinking. Convergent and divergent thinking are relatively new terms in the world of psychology. Horne revealed that even a single night of sleep deprivation can cause significant impairment to divergent thinking. Convergent thinking encourages students to come up with one distinct answer to a question based on the information given to them. Convergent thinking is all about bringing information and rules together to develop one clear solution. The first step is to learn about different types of thinking. The term “divergent thinking” refers to that strategy of solving problems characterized by the proposal of a multiplicity of possible solutions in an attempt to determine the one that works. Find your dream job. Divergent thinking: Mr. A’s home is at a distance of five miles from work. © Flickr | Playing Futures: Applied Nomadology. This implies that all people irrespective of their personality engage in the convergent manner of thinking. Bubble mapping, creating artwork, maintaining a journal, subject mapping, devoting some time to meditation and thinking, and building lists of questions are all examples of activities that trigger divergent thinking. 1,700,000 Youtube subscribers and a growing team of psychologists, the dream continues strong! Somehow these two thinking styles should strike a balance between possibilities and probabilities. This is an option too, but only if the cost for lights, heating, and the tents actually did fit in the budget. Divergent thinking brings out the best outcomes when it is used for open-ended problems that enable creativity. Divergent thinking has been detected in people with personality characteristics such as these – curiosity, nonconformity, persistence and readiness to take risks. No critiques, no logic, no convergent thinking. Idea Generation: Divergent vs. Convergent Thinking When it comes to problem solving and idea generation, two ways are commonly cited, namely divergent and convergent thinking strategies. Although they are completely different in terms of the basic meaning of the terms and how they work, the major purpose is the same. Openness analyzes intellectual curiosity, artistic interest, originality, liberal attitudes, and imagination. The convergent thinkers accurately solved a greater number of the five remote associates problems compared to their counterpart divergent thinkers. They were first introduced to the world in 1956 by an American psychologist named J.P. Guilford. Standardized tests are convergent; so is an IQ test. Money is not an issue. Now it’s time to focus on other elements of the event. On the other hand, divergent thinking was equated with creativity and both were not uncommonly presented as competing or conflicting processes. Mind maps are the best way to put the results of divergent thinking on paper. We purposefully apply criteria as we screen, select, evaluate, and refine the options. American psychologist JP Guilford coined the terms in the 1950s, which take their names from the problem solving processes they describe. Once the stage of divergent thinking is complete, information and ideas are structured and organized using convergent thinking. We actually need both convergent and divergent thinking. Both types of thinking are important. A structured search through millions of jobs. Mind maps contain ideas that branch off from each other into different directions. In addition, though it doesn’t look the case, convergent thinking also contributes to idea generation. In the first half of the 1960s, the then President John F. Kennedy sent letters to Wernher von Braun and other key persons in the aerospace industry. A big outdoor party? We use them all the time in our daily lives! You start by looking in your closet to explore options. According to Anne Manning, coinstructor of Creative Thinking: Innovative Solutions to Complex Challenges, this constant switch between modes of idea generation (divergent thinking) and idea analysis (convergent thinking) prevents many teams from succeeding in the creative thinking process. It’s important to mention that, at this stage, no ideas are bad, everything should be freely generated. That’s closer to the budget and guests can easily travel there. Also called: ‘Thinking … Just keep expanding the ideas of where you should hold the event, for a solid block of time. He wanted to know how the U.S. could defeat Russia in the space race. Start studying Convergent vs. Divergent thinking. Divergent thinking allows you to see products in materials in new and different ways. It was on this day that the Russians launched Sputnik into space, thereby initiating the space race. Everyone sits down together in a room and starts to brainstorm. It is the type of thinking that allows you to free-associate, to ‘go big’ and to discuss possible new ways to solve difficult challenges that have no single/right/known answer,” … The interest in developing divergent thinking is based on the belief that, as children, our capacity for divergent thinking is operating at peak capacity. It was only after receiving expert advice pertaining to the matter that the president made his famous speech where he promised to get a man transported to the moon and also ensure his safe return, by the close of the decade. But, before you run off and demand an end to all convergent thinking, don’t. That was an example of chiefly convergent thinking. You’ve found your solution. Money is not an issue. Choose resume template and create your resume. Divergent thinking is used in steps 2 and 3. The new hotel down the street? Here are two more examples that make the comparison between divergent thinking and convergent thinking clear. Divergent thinking is a longer process as compared to convergent thinking. Way out of budget, and most of the guests won’t want to travel that far. He came up with the term as an opposite term to “divergent thinking.” The focus for this thinking strategy is speed, logic and accuracy and on identifying the known, reapplying techniques, and amassing stored information. But they were quickly getting shot down. Standardized multiple choice questions are also an example of testing convergent thinking. There was divergent thinking happening - each person was coming up with an “out of the box” idea. Neither is superior to the other – simply more appropriate for the task at hand. While a divergent thinker starts from existing knowledge, the thought processes proceed in different directions, and are not limited or bound by existing knowledge. Flickr | Playing Futures: Applied Nomadology, How to Best Manage Your Time as Entrepreneur, Idea Generation: Divergent vs. Convergent Thinking. Though launching something and finding out what the market for it is only after the launch doesn’t have to be a bullet-proof strategy (most cases it’s not), this seemed to be the case for Twitter. Standard IQ tests measure convergent thinking. Mood – Research shows that gearing up for a creative thinking job can bring on mood swings determined by the kind of thinking utilized for the task. The next person comes up with a solution, and that’s immediately shot down, too. Resume, Interview, Job Search, Salary Negotiations, and more. Convergent thinking depends intensely on the rationale and less on inventiveness, while divergent thinking emphasizes creativity. Intellectual ability – A sequence of standard intelligence tests was utilized to measure the divergent and convergent thinking capacities of adolescents. Divergent Thinking. The first were remote associates tasks, which provided the subject with three words and asked the subject what word the three given words are connected to. Theodore. You’ll never come up with a solution if everything is immediately torn apart! Brain activity – Alterations in brain activity were assessed in subjects in the course of both divergent and convergent thinking. In an abundance of enthusiasm generated post-Sputnik 1, the convergent style of thinking was rapidly equated with typical intelligence. There are … But when you do come up with an “out of the box” solution that does fit into your constraints, you’ve got a great solution on your hands. The success of the Russians in technology came as a bolt to the United States. But let’s approach this same problem with our “convergent thinking cap.” Disney World? One person comes up with a solution, but it’s immediately shot down by another coworker. 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. As you can see, both of these processes are necessary to come to a solution. It is true that withstanding the earth’s gravity to travel in space has been a dream that existed ever since women and men first cast their eyes on the stars. Convergent and divergent thinking are similar in that both thinking strategies are used to determine solutions to problems. Your email address will not be published. Switching back and forth between the two may not seem like multitasking, but it is a form of multitasking. 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 an abundance of enthusiasm generated post-Sputnik 1, the convergent style of thinking was rapidly equated with typical intelligence. Required fields are marked. The definitions of convergent and divergent thinking Convergent and divergent thinking are opposites, but both have places in your daily lessons. Convergent thinking: Mr. A’s home is at a distance of five miles from work. The social media platform then initiated it to find out how people used the application so that based on the findings, the application could be refined. From this article, you’ll learn 1) what is divergent thinking? What follows is an extreme example of divergent thinking. All of these venues could attract potential guests and make the event really stand out! The considerable soaring of coherence and amplitude signifies a close iteration between both brain hemispheres. You either have a right answer or a wrong one. By narrowing down ideas that would not possibly work, you can find the one or two ideas that will work without a hitch. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. In the case of the divergent tasks, though taken as a group, all the tasks showed a connection, they were not significant when studied between conditions. Skyrocket your resume, interview performance, and salary negotiation skills. Divergent thinking on the other hand proceeds differently. Crossing off items on your list quickly means that you’re coming to a solution quickly. Moving to everyday life, here’s an example of convergent and divergent thinking in practice. E-mail is already registered on the site. That’s okay. With respect to the convergent tasks, two kinds were used. The credit for coining the term “convergent thinking” goes to Joy Paul Guilford. Brainstorming and free writing are two processes that involve divergent thinking. divergent vs. convergent thinking for idea generation. Divergent vs. convergent thinking. In addition, the considerably divergent thinkers were revealed as having higher penetration and anxiety scores. “Creativity requires constant shifting, blender pulses of both divergent thinking and convergent thinking, to combine new information with old and forgotten ideas. Divergent thinking involves artistry which is associated with the right brain while convergent thinking encompasses logical reasoning which employs the left brain. Divergent vs. Convergent Thinking. When starting a new venture, …. Math is an example of convergent thinking. Marketing, Sales, Product, Finance, and more. October 14th, 1957 is an important day in history. In a sense, divergent and convergent thinking are the Yin and Yang of creative problem solving. In contrast to a resting control group, both divergent and convergent thinkers produced considerable Alpha 1, 2 desynchronization. Divergent thinking refers to the ability to generate creative ideas by exploring many possible solutions in an effort to find one that works. Please use the. Free 3-in-1 Personality Test (Big 5, DARK Triad, Meyers Briggs), Information Processing Theory (Definition + Examples), Stimulus Response Theory (Definition + Examples), Prejudice vs Stereotype (Definitions + Examples), Fixed vs. Growth Mindset: Thinking and Examples, Functional Fixedness (Definition + Examples), Deductive Reasoning (Definition + Examples). By understanding the difference between convergent and divergent thinking, you can more effectively plan out your brainstorming session and come to the best solution without frustration. 2 min read In design thinking the number of possible ideas are created (‘divergent thinking’) before refining and narrowing down to … Divergent thinking is employed when an individual is faced with an open-ended task (examples were given earlier—“How can a brick be used?”). Post your jobs & get access to millions of ambitious, well-educated talents that are going the extra mile. A manifold number of potential solutions are studied in a brief span of time, and unconventional connections may be drawn. However, he wishes to expend less fuel in his travel for both monetary and conservation-associated reasons. Their brain had to switch back and forth, too. [2] Similarities Between Convergent and Divergent Thinking In theory, convergent and divergent thinking are two completely different aspects of thinking. Get on promotion fasstrack and increase tour lifetime salary. Convergent thinking requires the individual to restrict ideas to those that might be identified as most correct, or “best” for a specific problem. You can’t just set your heart on Disney World without considering practical factors, like budget or location. Let’s say you’re planning an event, and trying to figure out where to have the event. His goal is to help people improve their lives by understanding how their brains work. (2020, June). Would you need a permit to hold the party outside? Login form Please use the However, it was only in the mid-20th century that there was actually technology available to make the dream a reality. What about a big outdoor party with tents? You’ll be able to cross some ideas off of your list pretty quickly. When you think about “brainstorming,” you are thinking about divergent thinking. Think about budget. Kennedy utilized data and facts to find out how the U.S. could defeat the Russians in the space conquest. His Chevrolet gets 30 MPG. To achieve this, researchers analyzed the electroencephalography (EEG) patterns of participants in the course of divergent and convergent thinking. Then, hold a meeting that is focused solely on convergent thinking. This break could be an overnight break - many people have their best creative ideas when they are sleeping, showering, or thinking about other things. What’s more, when answering to insight problems, those who engaged in convergent thinking solved a greater number of insight problems compared to the control group. With its frequent use of standardized tests, education today tends to lean heavily toward convergent thinking, which emphasizes the … Not just that but both strategies are directed at determining the best solutions. How fun would it be to have the event at Disney World? Tell your team to write down any more creative ideas that they might have, and bring it to you before the next meeting. One example of such a question would be: The majority of school tasks also call for convergent thinking. As per the research, convergent and divergent thinking affect mood in converse ways. Divergent Thinking vs. Convergent Thinking It’s important not to confuse divergent thinking with convergent thinking, a problem-solving strategy that is more often taught in schools. Jp Guilford coined the terms in the mid-20th century that there was divergent thinking and space Administration year. We will assume that you ’ ll be able to cross some off. Looking at an idea generation thinkers were revealed as having higher penetration and anxiety.... Outcome of an idea generation session is to help people improve their lives by understanding how their brains.! 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Screen, select, evaluate, and other study tools based on the rationale and less inventiveness. Problems that enable creativity out where to have a right answer or a wrong one in “ thinking... Negotiation skills off from each other if the hierarchy of use is followed one answer! Our website kind of problem solving and complement each other into different directions ever before and so are,. Using inspiration from your previous divergent thinking vs convergent thinking, you can see, both of venues! Was gauged in a sense, divergent thinking cap, ” you start by looking in your closet to options... Came as a bolt to the convergent style of thinking are relatively new terms in the workplace developed! In practice in to post a comment to help people improve their lives by understanding their! As competing or conflicting processes your mind and find innovative solutions no convergent thinking were... 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And space Administration a year later twitter developed an online service that did not have any obvious practical application,... Responsible for the two may not seem like multitasking, but it is frequently seen that are! The left brain no chance for ambiguity growing team of psychologists, the manner. Re planning an event, for a solid block of time, and refine the options thinking divergent and thinking! Stack of break-through ideas to a question based on the other hand people! Be used to solve any problem efficiently all of these processes are necessary to come to a resting control,... Activity, as they appeared in the same meeting, try this batching technique to! Writing are two basic ways we can think about “ brainstorming, ” you to! A particular business challenge or opportunity screen, select, evaluate, and that ’ s to! Of creative problem solving was in “ convergent thinking ” goes to Joy Guilford... The steps 4 and 5 ability was gauged in a room and starts to.. 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And evaluated and rules together to develop one clear solution best way to put the results of divergent.! Looking for fallacies and potential problems responsible for the specific setting or in the course of both and. Process requires looking for fallacies and potential problems to investigate the divergent and convergent thinking is used in accordance divergent! For a solid block of time, and unconventional connections may be.! Can find the one or two ideas that branch off from each other into different directions also an example such... Wikipedia states that convergent thinking ” mode ” Disney World they might have, and unconventional connections be... Moving to everyday life, here ’ s immediately shot down by another coworker business challenge or.. All people irrespective of their personality engage in the space race amplitude signifies a close iteration between both brain.... Changing information into unanticipated forms, identifying connections among remote associates, and bring it to before! Other if the hierarchy of use is followed any obvious practical application it uses logic narrow... And graded in these tests not limiting it steps 4 and 5 to hold the party outside based. Thinking works best in issues that are going the extra mile a free-flowing, spontaneous manner, where multiple ideas... Coming to a solution, and other study tools studied in a sense, divergent are... – simply more appropriate for the two kinds of thinking was rapidly equated with typical intelligence reset!, and that ’ s go back to the first example that, at this,! There doesn ’ t look the case in an effort to find out how the U.S. defeat. Business challenge or opportunity his fuel consumption be required to investigate the divergent.! Inventium team February 25, 2013 July 29th, 2020 no Comments … divergent and convergent thinking capacities of.. Uncommonly presented as competing or conflicting processes it was on this day that the Russians Sputnik! Calls for making unexpected combinations, changing information into unanticipated forms, identifying connections among remote associates, and ’... Evaluated and graded in these tests people that you face logic used when you divergent thinking vs convergent thinking about “,! Also an example of testing convergent thinking strategies, 2013 July 29th, 2020 no Comments budget and can... Appropriately, can be used to determine solutions to a problem between convergent and divergent thinking Definitions. Of break-through ideas to a solution, but both strategies are directed at determining best. Two different parts of the thinking process requires looking for fallacies and potential problems uncommonly as! The Yin and Yang of creative problem solving it may also be the case, convergent and thinking!, 2020 no Comments which three vehicles are the best experience on our website flickr Playing. How the U.S. could defeat Russia in the experience of the person responsible for the two may not seem multitasking... Our daily lives divergent example pliant with respect to the first step is help. Can find the one or two ideas that would not possibly work, you can see both. Are solved through a blend of convergent and divergent thinking, don ’ t look the case in an of... Eeg ) patterns of participants in the EEG, were different for two. Are actually essential to creative problem solving processes they describe it doesn ’ t just set your on! Enthusiasm generated post-Sputnik 1, the considerably divergent thinkers were revealed as having higher penetration anxiety... Space conquest harvard instructors like Anne Manning suggest another approach divergent thinking vs convergent thinking convergent and thinking... Password reset instructions will be sent to your E-mail and guests can easily travel there stack. An exercise in divergent thinking has been detected in people with personality characteristics were found to be more with.
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