User:CTB02/Divergent thinking

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Divergent thinking is a thought process or method used to generate creative ideas by exploring many possible solutions. It typically occurs in a spontaneous, free-flowing, "non-linear" manner, such that many ideas are generated in an emergent cognitive fashion. Many possible solutions are explored in a short amount of time, and unexpected connections are drawn. Following divergent thinking, ideas and information are organized and structured using convergent thinking, which follows a particular set of logical steps to arrive at one solution, which in some cases is a "correct" solution. Being able to use divergent thinking can help people mental status, improve academic abilities, help with problem solving, and increase creativity.

The psychologist J.P. Guilford first coined the terms convergent thinking and divergent thinking in 1956.

Benefits of Divergent Thinking on Mental State
The ability to use divergent thinking is said to increase the mental mental status of young adults according to Bennliure and Moral. Mental health can have major impacts on peoples lives. It can be beneficial to some people to learn more about divergent thinking and how it can help with coping mechanisms. Bennliure and Moral state that people with low divergent thinking can get overwhelmed by thinking of the same "repetitive" answer or thought process, leading to feelings of anxiety or depression. On the other hand, being able to create multiple ideas, answers, or plans of action for a certain stressor can create less "thoughts of helplessness, catastrophism, and hopelessness ." For this reason, being able to use divergent thinking can be beneficial in lessening anxiety and depression symptoms by "having a more active and open approach" to problems or stressors.

Deductive reasoning (I will add this to the article)
Divergent thinking not only encourages playfulness but reasoning skills as well. Pier-Luc Chantal, Emilie Gagnon-St-Pierre, and Henry Markovits of Universite du Quebec a Montreal conducted a study on preschool aged children in which the relationship between divergent thinking and deductive reasoning were observed. They found that incorporating components of divergent thinking into learning, such as generating unique ideas, "might be a powerful tool to improve reasoning." This approach stresses the idea that "deductive reasoning is not only about getting the 'right' answer but requires going beyond the most obvious ideas in order to generate even very unlikely possibilities."

Divergent Thinking and Aging (I will add this to the article
Guila Fusi, Sara Lavolpe, Nara Crepaldi, Maria Lusia Rusconi conducted a systematic review on the effect of age on divergent thinking. They found that the relationship between age and DT abilities is not at all linear, but "complex and multidimensional." Many variables can influence DT abilities, including "educational level, intelligence, WM (working memory) abilities, and speed of processing." Before any further research should be done, the authors first believe that a theoretical discussion needs to be held. Of course, "new and more accurate information about which of the DT abilities might be preserved or impaired in the elderly population could have significant practical implications."