Creative Thinking: What it Is, Characteristics and How to Enhance it

In the complex society in which we live, creativity is a capacity not only useful for innovation, but also necessary for the survival of organizations and social groups. Evolution and change, which especially technology has generated in recent decades, are increasingly rapid and unpredictable. That is why answers to everyday problems are increasingly difficult to find: experience, by itself, does not help to resolve situations as easily as in the past.

Many tend to associate creative thinking with artists, children, and those who “can afford to dream or fantasize.” In the reality of all of us, creative thinking serves to think about possible alternatives, have original ideas to find solutions, get out of difficult situations or behavioral patterns that block us. With this PsychologyFor article, we are going to delve into the characteristics of creative thinking, to understand what it is and how to improve it

What is creative thinking

creative thinking It is a higher aspect of thought, because it is the power of the mind that can lead us to change it. It is the type of thinking that has gradually evolved the world of men from barbarism and ignorance to the comforts and knowledge we enjoy today.

Without a doubt, JP Guilford was one of the first authors to systematically study creativity. In fact, in 1950-1955 he used, from a psychological point of view, the word “creativity” to focus on the characteristic features of an authentic personality and, in a speech on creativity held in America, he analyzed all aspects related to the problems of creativity. Guilford identifies seven characteristics of creativity:

1. Sensitivity: timely awareness of problems.
2. Verbal dissolution or fluency ideative, associative: willingness to produce hypotheses that resolve perceived problems, to develop and act, from the same perspective, verbal, written and pictorial expressions.
3. Flexibility: adaptation to unusual and unexpected situations.
4. Divergent thinking: rejection of deteriorating conformism, of obvious, unproductive thinking, and therefore the ability to develop and propose new, unusual theses.
5. Redefinition: ability of original treatment of known things, of use of the vector force that is contained in the definition of knowledge.
6. Analysis: ability to identify and capture significant data.
7. Summary: investigation and articulation of a meaningful structure between elements of knowledge and experience.

Characteristics of creative thinking

The Torrance Test of Creative Thinking, considered one of the most reliable, measures the ability to offer different, original, precise answers that combine heterogeneous elements. Designed by psychologist Ellis Paul Torrance, it is primarily used to predict the creative development of children starting at 5 years of age. The child who scores well, therefore, is more likely to become a creative adult, such as a businessman, an artist, or a scientist. The TTCT therefore examines and attempts to measure individual ability in what are the four pragmatic dimensions of all creative work well done:

1. Fluency
2. Flexibility
3. Originality
4. Elaboration

Phases of creative thinking

Although the creative process has been analyzed by many, the sequence that seems most plausible to me and that many have been inspired by is the proposal of Graham Wallas who, in 1926, together with Richard Smith, wrote The Art of Thought. Creative thinking is mobile: it goes back and forth between the right and left hemispheres, and in fact in Wallas’s four phases there is an alternation of convergent thinking and divergent thinking.

1. Preparation
2. Incubation
3. Lightning
4. check

Tips and exercises to enhance creative thinking

If until now you have thought that creativity is the prerogative of others, it is time for you to realize that you can train yourself to think more creatively. If you are already confident in your creativity, you can continue developing your skills.

• Be positive
• Welcome the change
• Speaks
• Relax and enjoy the fun side
• Exercise and solve puzzles

In this article you will find more information about How to develop creativity.

This article is merely informative, at PsychologyFor we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.

If you want to read more articles similar to Creative thinking: what it is, characteristics and how to enhance it we recommend that you enter our Cognitive Psychology category.

Bibliography

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