divergent thinking
Exploring multiple possibilities
Divergent thinking is a cognitive process that generates multiple possible solutions or ideas from a single starting point, moving outward in many directions rather than converging on one answer.
It's central to creativity and brainstorming—The test measured divergent thinking by asking how many uses you could find for a brick.
The opposite is convergent thinking, which narrows toward a single correct solution.
- ideationForming mental concepts
- idea generationCreating new concepts
- originalityNovel creative quality
- novel ideasOriginal, untried concepts
- brainstormingGenerating many ideas freely
imagination · creativity · fluency · Guilford · flexibility · mental flexibility · free association · stream of consciousness · open-mindedness · elaboration · innovation · curiosity · intrinsic motivation · mind mapping · creative problem-solving · problem-solving · adaptability · experimentation
- creativityimagination, creativity, brainstorming, unique voice, inspiration
- cognitionreasoning, thought, cognition, remembering, memory retrieval
- mindsetsgrowth mindset, fixed mindset, mindset, abundance mindset, scarcity mindset
- thinking skillslogic, logical reasoning, reasoning, reason, analysis
- creative thinkingbrainstorming, imagination, creativity, innovation, ideation
- Ideationbrainstorming, mind mapping, idea generation, ideas, brain dump
divergent thinkinganalytical thinking
Systematic examination of parts
linear thinking · deductive reasoning · narrowing down · critical thinking · logical reasoning
divergent thinkingrigid thinking
Inability to adapt mentally
systematic thinking · orthodoxy · rule-following · tunnel vision · groupthink