Creative Thinking

Ex. of divergent thinking

An erase may be used to erase, clean, beat someone up with.

Ex. of convergent thinking

An eraser is only used to erase

Incubation

Attempted solutions may be futile but even though the problem may be set aside for awhile, it's still "cooking"

What affects language

Context, ethnic communities, social groups

Logical thought

Drawing conclusions on the basis of formal principles of reasoning

Fluency, flexibility, originality

Factors creativity is rated by

Originality

How novel or unusual the solutions are

Illumination

Insights; light-bulb moment

Uses of mental images

Make decision or solve a problem, change feelings, improve a skill or prepare for some actions, aid memory

Stages of creative thought

Orientation, preparation, incubation, illumination, verification

Orientation

Person defines the problem and identifies its most important dimensions

Images, concepts, language

Primary units of thought

Abilities to have insight

Selective encoding, selective combination, selective comparison

Verification

Test and critically evaluate the solution

Flexibility

The number of different types of solutions produced

Fluency

The total number of solutions produced

Preparation

Thinkers get as much information as possible

Convergent thinking

Thinking directed toward discovery of a single established correct answer; conventional thinking

Inductive thought

Thinking in which a general rule or principle is gathered from a series of specific examples (specific to general)

Divergent thinking

Thinking that produces many ideas or alternatives; a major element in original or creative thinking

Deductive thought

Thought that applies a general set of rules to specific situations (general to specific)

Illogical thought

Thought that is intuitive, haphazard, or irrational