[When Generating and Deciding on Ideas] | Using Convergent and Divergent Thinking Effectively

For example, when deciding on a study schedule.
When choosing a restaurant for dinner on the weekend.
When thinking about a presentation theme.

We are required to come up with some kind of "answer" on a daily basis.

However, the way of thinking required for that varies greatly depending on the situation.

When asked for new ideas, you might work your brain by thinking, "Let's just come up with as many ideas as possible."

On the other hand, after several candidates have been put forward, a judgment is needed on "which one to choose" or "how to combine them."

The former is thinking that expands options, while the latter is thinking that narrows them down.
These involve completely different brain functions and are called "divergent thinking" and "convergent thinking" in psychology.

Neither one alone will allow problem-solving or learning to proceed efficiently. It is important to consciously switch between these two thinking modes.

This time, we will talk about how to switch between these thinking modes, which is useful when planning problem-solving or learning.

This content is beneficial for those who struggle in situations where new ideas are required, or conversely, for those who have ideas but cannot give them shape. Now, here is the main article.

What are convergent thinking and divergent thinking?

The psychologist Joy Guilford was the first to propose these two thinking styles. He introduced this concept in the 1950s while analyzing creativity within intelligence research.

Divergent thinkingis thinking that attempts to generate as many answers or perspectives as possible for a single question. It emphasizes flexible and free thinking, and the value lies in producing diverse ideas rather than limiting oneself to a single correct answer.

On the other hand, convergent thinkingis thinking that narrows down the most appropriate answer from multiple options or pieces of information. It aims to analyze logically and find the "correct answer" that meets the conditions.

For example, when asked, "Think of uses for a brick," listing them one after another as they come to mind—such as "building a house," "using it as a weight," "using it as a paperweight," or "using it for self-defense"—is divergent thinking.

And evaluating which of those is "the most practical in the current situation" and deciding on one is convergent thinking.

Brain functions also differ

Research has shown that brain activity patterns also differ between divergent thinking and convergent thinking.

When divergent thinking is at work, the brain is more likely to activate a region called the Default Mode Network (DMN). This is a brain network that works when you are not concentrating or are daydreaming, and it is involved in memory integration and creative association.

DMN is explained in more detail in the following article.

On the other hand, in convergent thinking, regions involved in reasoning, such as the prefrontal cortex, work actively. This is the part responsible for logical judgment, planning, and organizing information.

In short, divergent and convergent thinking involve fundamentally different 'modes' of the brain. If you try to force both at the same time, both will end up being half-baked.

Practical Application—Consciously Switching Thinking Modes

So, how should you use these modes in actual learning or work situations?

When making a study plan

When trying to learn a new field, it is effective to follow this flow: 'First, list up relevant books, videos, and courses (divergence)' → 'Choose the ones that fit your level and goals from among them (convergence)'.

If you decide from the start that 'this is the best,' you might miss other options. Conversely, if you keep adding candidates forever, you will never actually start learning.

When considering an approach to a task

When facing a problem, in the brainstorming stage of 'what possible solutions are there?', withhold criticism and evaluation and just generate as many ideas as possible (divergence).

After that, evaluate them based on criteria such as 'feasibility,' 'cost,' and 'effectiveness,' and select the best method (convergence).

By separating the stages in this way, you can bring out both creativity and execution ability.

When creating materials or writing documents

The same applies when creating presentation materials or articles.

First, freely expand on the content you want to convey using notes or a mind map (divergence). Next, organize them, build a structure, and trim away unnecessary parts (convergence).

If you aim for a perfect structure from the beginning, your ideas will become cramped. First expand, then narrow down. It is important to follow this order.

Summary—Switching Thinking Modes Accelerates Learning

Divergent thinking and convergent thinking. Neither one is superior to the other; they should be used differently depending on the situation.

By clearly separating the time for expanding and the time for narrowing down, you can achieve both flexibility in ideas and accuracy in judgment.

Even in learning for self-actualization, you should expand options divergently when considering 'what to learn,' and narrow them down convergently when deciding 'how to learn.' By being conscious of this cycle, you should be able to grow more efficiently.

Thank you for reading this far!

This was the 30th installment of the Tamochi continuous posting project, [When Generating and Deciding on Ideas] | Using Convergent and Divergent Thinking .

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