One of the most famous personality analysis methods is the Myers-Briggs test, also called the MBTI test. This test includes 16 personality types and places people in one of these categories based on extroversion or introversion, sensory or intuitive, logical or emotional, judgmental (structuralist) or perceptive (flexible). Another concept proposed in Myers Briggs’s personality is divergent and convergent thinking approaches to solving problems; that is, people solve problems in different ways (convergent or divergent) according to their personality type. In this article, we examine what divergent and convergent thinking are, the differences between the types of thinking, and whether it is possible to use both ways of thinking.
What is divergent thinking?
Joy Paul Guilford (JP Guilford) was the first psychologist who used the term divergent and convergent thinking in 1956. Divergent thinking means providing creative and new solutions to solve problems. When you think divergently, you make different proposals to solve a problem, and with the help of brainstorming, you search for all possible answers to a question to find the best way to solve it.
What is convergent thinking?
Convergent thinking means using predetermined or well-defined solutions to solve problems. This way of thinking is used to solve problems whose solutions are clear and do not require creativity. For example, when you want to answer multiple-choice tests or solve a mathematical problem that you know has only one solution, you should use the power of convergent thinking.
The difference between convergent and divergent thinking
You probably noticed the difference in the definition of the types of thinking, but let’s better examine the difference between the two methods by citing an example. Imagine that the copier is broken at your workplace. A person who uses convergent thinking to solve a problem quickly calls a repairman to visit the place to repair the device. On the other hand, a person who is used to divergent thinking first looks for the cause of the copier problem and then finds different solutions to solve the problem. For example, he may be looking for an instructional video to repair a copier or ask his friend, an expert in this field.
In other words, for the convergent thinker, calling the repairman is the only available solution to solve the problem of the copier. For the divergent thinker, it is only one of the options to solve the problem.
Which way of thinking is better?
Consider the example of a copier: If the divergent thinker cannot find a way to fix the device on his own, he will have to call a repairer. In this case, it is just a waste of time, and convergent thinking seems to be a better way to solve the problem.
What if we imagine another state? If the divergent thinker can solve the problem by himself with the help of his friend’s instructions or training videos, he saves the cost of repairing the device and does not have to wait for the repairman. In this case, it seems that divergent thinking was more beneficial for problem-solving.
Divergent and convergent thinking are not superior to each other. By balancing these two ways of thinking, you can find the best solution for any problem and take advantage of it. Divergent thinking puts all the answers to solve a problem in front of you, and convergent thinking chooses the best solution for the problem.
Advantages and disadvantages of divergent thinking
Many people think that divergent thinking is the best way to consider because it goes hand in hand with creativity, but sometimes creativity is an unnecessary barrier to achievement! Creative problem-solving solutions are not always the best and sometimes even complicate things. Therefore, you should be familiar with the advantages and disadvantages of convergent and divergent thinking to recognize which situations each way suits.
The benefits of divergent thinking
The most essential advantages of divergent thinking are:
- It shows you new opportunities.
- It evaluates issues from different aspects.
- It offers new ideas and solutions to problems that may be more optimal and practical than old solutions.
- It will differentiate you from others, and you will find a winning card. For example, in business, with this way of thinking and finding creative solutions, you may offer a solid competitive advantage to customers.
Disadvantages of divergent thinking
You don’t always have enough time to think of the best solutions. For example, when you are assigned a project with a specific deadline at your workplace, you will not have enough time to creatively brainstorm all the available solutions to complete the project, evaluate them individually, and finally complete the project with the best solution. Taking time is one of the most critical weaknesses of divergent thinking.
Divergent thinking means putting all available options on the table and evaluating them, dividing the focus between several issues. When you think divergently, it takes time to organize ideas, arrive at a coherent solution, and bring order back to the project. Sometimes, even things may get out of your hands, and the project ends later than the scheduled date.
Advantages and disadvantages of convergent thinking
Convergent thinking is structured and provides clear solutions to problems. When processes have a specific hierarchy and issues are solved with predetermined answers, you should use convergent thinking. This way of thinking is also suitable when finding a quick solution to a problem.
Benefits of Convergent Thinking
The most essential advantages of convergent thinking are:
- It is the fastest way to solve problems.
- It leaves no room for doubt and ambiguity because it offers only one solution to the problem.
- Organization and linear execution of processes become more accessible with this way of thinking.
- Its results are predictable and less risky.
Disadvantages of convergent thinking
A constant commitment to convergent thinking keeps you away from innovation and progress. Convergent thinking means committing to what you’ve always done without innovating or making changes to optimize processes. Today’s world is constantly changing and updating, and because of this, only using a convergent way of thinking will cause you problems.
Another downside of convergent thinking is that it keeps you in the safe zone. When you think convergently, you want to solve in the shortest possible time. So you take the first solution, the usual method, and you won’t experience anything new.
How to use divergent and convergent thinking at the same time?
Types of thinking complement each other. Divergent thinking finds different options for problem-solving and provides new ideas. Convergent thinking transforms raw ideas into coherent, organized, and actionable solutions. Combining these two ways of thinking is solving problems with creativity and innovation. In the following, we explain how to use different types of thinking to identify and understand issues and find solutions.
1. Using divergent and convergent thinking to identify and investigate the problem
When a problem arises, you must first find the root of it. To find the source, you need divergent thinking to see all the possible causes. After determining the possible causes, check them one by one with the help of convergent thinking to find out exactly which one of them caused the problem. By finding the root cause of the problem, you will know what exactly you need to focus on to solve it.
2. Using convergent and divergent thinking to find a solution
After identifying the problem and its origin, you should reason and put all the possible solutions to solve the issue in the circle. It would be best if you had the power of divergent thinking to find all possible solutions. Write down whatever comes to your mind with brainstorming.
After the end of brainstorming, you should find the best way to solve the problem with convergent thinking. Sometimes, several proposed solutions may solve the problem. In this case, you should use reasoning to identify the most optimal and feasible solution and use it to solve the problem. If necessary, try different solutions by trial and error to reach the best option to solve the problem.
Methods of Strengthening Divergent Thinking
You can strengthen your divergent thinking by using the following techniques:
- Look at issues from other people’s point of view and look for solutions from their point of view.
- When an issue is too much on your mind, postpone deciding and rest for a while (at least 1 hour). Think about something else during your break.
- Draw a mind map. A mind map is the written version of brainstorming.
- Use the starburst technique. Write the problem in the middle of a paper and draw a six-pointed star around it. The tip of each star feather answers one of the Who, What, When, Where, How, and Why questions. Write down any ideas that come to your mind to answer these questions.
- Overcome the limitations that stand in your way. For example, if the time limit of the project prevents divergent thinking, ask the employer for more time.
- Strengthen your curiosity and risk-taking and look for new experiences. Many people remain committed to convergent thinking only because of the fear of leaving the safe zone and never taking advantage of creative and divergent thinking.
last word
In this article, we explained what divergent and convergent thinking is and what are the advantages of each of them. The right combination of these two ways of thinking will allow you to carry out your work in an orderly and organized manner and, at the same time, be creative and offer new solutions to solve problems. Thinking is one of the most extraordinary human powers and a God-given blessing, but how to think is a skill you must learn and use to succeed and achieve your goals.
