Creative Thinking

Definition of Creative Thinking

Creative thinking is also known as lateral thinking. Creative thinking is when someone is able to produce a vast amount of ideas and put them together in a way that may differ from someone else. A creative thinker often thinks outside the box and beyond the standard level of problem-solving. A person that is creative can make something new out of previous thoughts, things, or ideas.

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Stages of Creative Thinking

Graham Wallas laid out four stages of creative thinking. Wallas said that we use preparation, incubation, illumination, and verification stages during the creative thinking process to help us discover creative solutions.

Stages of Creative Thinking: Preparation

This might seem self-explanatory, but preparation includes just about anything that helps you get started thinking creatively. Identifying the problem or idea and obtaining any necessary background information or details is helpful during this stage to support your future creative ideas. An important tactic in this stage is brainstorming. Gathering ideas and materials that may be needed to bring your idea or project to life is also important and will help you be ready to proceed with the creative process.

Stages of Creative Thinking: Incubation

Incubation actually involves unconscious thoughts and only requires that you take a break after all of that prep work. You might just be surprised at what else will come up throughout the day when you are not cognitively aware that your brain is at work. Perhaps you will become inspired by your surroundings and be able to incorporate them into your creative project!

Stages of Creative Thinking: Illumination

Illumination is the stage when things fall into place. You will have a brief moment of understanding that contributes to your idea or issue. Most of the time, illumination is when you develop new connections to really bring a creative solution or project together.

Stages of Creative Thinking: Verification

Verification is when you put everything you've learned through the creative process together. The actual creation of choice comes to life here if your ideas are successful. If not, you might have to go back through the creative process or use some critical thinking skills here.

Examples of Creative Thinking in Psychology

You most likely automatically think about art when you think of creativity. However, art isn't the only way or reason to use creativity. Sure, paintings are creative, but creativity goes far beyond just painting on a canvas or drawing on paper. An artist can use creative thinking skills to portray an emotion, to portray an idea, or to tell a story in a variety of ways.

Some examples of creative thinking skills include thinking critically, having a strong imagination, viewing scenarios from multiple perspectives, possessing curiosity, and having an open mind. These skills are all important because they allow room for new ideas to flow and new connections to be made.

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Creative Thinking Techniques

There are so many creative thinking techniques. Creativity can be enhanced and achieved through some of the techniques listed below:

Creative Thinking Techniques: Goal Setting

Having a clear set of goals for yourself is extremely important. You would not try to improve your guitar playing skills if you were trying to get better at cooking a meal. Having expectations for ourselves can hold us accountable before starting the creative process. You might ask yourself things such as "What am I trying to accomplish?" or "What are my strengths/weaknesses?" After you have your goals established, you can then move on to list the steps you need to take to reach those goals. Chances are if you have a path to follow that you are passionate about, you will get there with the right level of determination.

Getting Inspired

Finding inspiration is important for creativity. While you want to be an original, you might be able to pick up on some tactics that other people have used to spark your new, creative ideas. When you have a clear goal in mind, finding inspiration from other people should be fairly easy. If your goal is to start a small business in candle-making, you might want to research tactics, tips, and tricks that other people have used to make the process easier for you. By doing this you can incorporate your own ideas but still gain inspiration from the techniques that other people use.

Brainstorming as a Creative Thinking Technique

While this may seem obvious, brainstorming is a great way to open your mind to new ideas. The best way to brainstorm is to write down ideas and random thoughts that come to your mind throughout the day. You might be surprised what 5 minutes of uninterrupted writing can do for you. You can even brainstorm by engaging in conversations with other people. They may be able to offer helpful advice. Mood boards are also another great way to brainstorm and align your goals with your progress.

Creative Thinking Techniques and Self-Analysis

Keep track of your progress when trying to come up with new creative ideas. See how far you've come from the first time you listed your goals. Keeping an open mind when criticizing yourself can be hard, but it is doable. By keeping track of your progress, you can see what is and isn't working, and you can see how far you've come! If something is not working, you can then take further action. Maybe it is time to rethink your motives or change the path that you thought would work. You can become even more creative by being able to adapt quickly to new changes.

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Characteristics of Creative Thinking

Everything that we have discussed thus far can be incorporated into the characteristics of creative thinking. Creativity involves being able to maintain generating a steady amount of new ideas. It also includes recognizing and learning from mistakes. There is a lot of room for mishaps and mistakes in the creative process. Even if your new creative idea ends up not being useful, that idea can spark other new ideas!

The fun part about being creative is that the possibilities are endless. Of course, sometimes we need to use creativity for work or deadlines, but constantly coming up with new ideas helps us to always be prepared. Creative thinkers want to learn, grow, and succeed in their own unique way which means they will always jump at new experiences and opportunities that help them reach their goals.