Is high convergent-thinking compatible with high creativity (divergent thinking) ?

Question

Thank you for your serious answers.

i missed a word : "Is high convergent-thinking LEVEL compatible with high creativity (divergent thinking) ?"

Answer 1

Hi Salade

Can I re-word the question slightly to see if I've understood what you are asking:

"Is a highly convergent level of thinking compatible with divergent thinking?"

If I've understood you correctly, the answer would have to be that a person could be switching back and forth between convergent and divergent thinking, but I cannot see how they could be thinking in both styles at the same time.

In fact the wording of your question indicates that these labels are two ends of a range of possibilities with at least five distinct staging posts:

High convergence
|
Low convergence
|
No clear preference
|
Low divergence
|
High divergence


It might help to clarify things if we remember that NLP has several "meta programs" (ways of filtering information) which make use of this basic pattern:

Options/Procedures (divergent/convergent) - do you prefer to be free to make your own decisions and choices (in a given situation) or do you like to abide by a clearly defined procedure?

reactive/proactive (convergent/divergent) - do you like to do things the way we've always done them, or follow your own gut feeling?

And so on.

It may even explain the creationist/evolution argument.

If scientists tend prefer convergent thinking, no wonder they don't like creationism with it's heavy emphasis on "divergent" belief in the supernatural, which cannot be tested/validated by strict, sequential experimentation.

Thank you for a seemingly simple question which actually goes to the very heart of our education system, our way of "knowing" things, etc., etc., etc.

Answer 2

Convergent-thinking makes divergent thinking useful. There may be many ways to think divergently (there are at least 7 different modalities that have proven effective); however, there are far more ways to converge those ideas into a single idea worth implementation.

Convergent-thinking process must be about digging deeper into an idea, honing it, developing rationale for use, structuring mind-maps for possible implementation: all of which take both detail and creative thinking in problem-solving.

There are processes for this: BCON of Japan has developed the Innovative Thinking Seminar that is one of the best I have ever seen. I was trained in their process and find it a dynamic experience, especially when "ordinary" folks find that they can be both creative, and constructively critical (convergent thinking) in developing a pool of ideas and determine which idea might have legs for implementation.

Answer 3

Not usually unless it is structured in such a way that the creative section is allowed to flourish semi-autonomously. A real example of this is how true enterpreneurs are fostered within large corporations. Organize it properly so the creative entrepreneurs are buffered from the regimented corporate types.

Answer 4

I suppose not, when it comes to 'stupid me'. -Not sure what you're getting at.