One way to look at thinking is to separate thinking into two broad categories: Convergent and Divergent Thinking.

What is Convergent Thinking?

Convergent thinking, occurs when a person gathers facts evidence or experiences from a variety of sources to solve a problem. The result is one answer that hopefully is correct. In school we all have learned a large amount of knowledge that could be classed as factual. We have often been tested for the correct answers-- so in many cases convergent thinking comes natural to us.

An example of convergent thinking would be solving a math problem such as 2+2= ___.

Well, we know that in math there is only one answer to that problem! If there were a variety of solutions to that simple problem, imagine how difficult things would be at the check out counter in any store!

What is Divergent Thinking?

Divergent thinking occurs when we start with a stimulus and rather than look for one answer instead generate many ideas or possible solutions. If you think about the Thinking quiz at the beginning of this unit, you can probably see that some of the mistakes you may have made were because you were thinking convergently rather than divergently.

Sometimes it is just not a good idea to fit everything into the same old box you've always put it in. New ideas often need completely new categories. What divergent thinking attempts to do is free you from the old ways of doing things, take things apart and look at them in new ways, mix things together that don't belong, stir up the brain!

Sometimes what we thought was useless, is really important. For a diversion into Useless Knowledge visit UselessKnowledge.com...but don't forget to come back!!