Definition

The type of thinking that involves generating ideas and different thoughts without limitation1

Divergent thinking is highly spontaneous and free-flowing. Brainstorming and mind maps are great examples of divergent thinking

The crux of divergence is the production of ideas. One can sit and come up with numerous thoughts and ideas in a given time period. They need not always make sense or be practical and they need not necessarily be connected

You take a problem and you generate several possible solutions to it You take a question and you generate several alternate ways to reframe the same question

Use convergent thinking to put together the ideas produced by divergent thinking

Too much divergent thinking can be bad for your mental health - Schizophrenia?

Opposite: Convergent Thinking

Footnotes

  1. Divergent Thinking - Wikipedia