Understanding the Difference Between Creative Thinking and Ordinary Thinking

In the world of innovation and problem-solving, two distinct thought processes emerge as fundamental: creative thinking and ordinary thinking. While ordinary thinking follows predefined patterns and logic, creative thinking thrives on the unexpected, connecting seemingly unrelated concepts to generate novel ideas.

What is Creative Thinking?

Creative thinking is the art of linking two ideas that do not naturally relate to each other. This can be seen as lateral thinking, a process that ventures beyond the obvious to uncover fresh perspectives. Creative thinkers excel in generating novel content that challenges the status quo, often producing solutions that are unique and imaginative.

What is Ordinary Thinking?

Ordinary thinking, on the other hand, involves a more straightforward path. It follows predefined patterns and uses explicit thoughts to develop ideas. This approach is often likened to vertical thinking, where an idea is explored in depth and built upon in a systematic manner. Ordinary thinking can be efficient and reliable, but it may limit the exploration of new or unconventional ideas.

Engaging the Slow Mode

The insight into these two modes of thinking comes from Daniel Kahneman's groundbreaking work, Thinking, Fast and Slow. In his research, Kahneman highlighted that most people tend to rely on quick, intuitive judgments when faced with problems or decisions. This 'fast' mode of thinking is often referred to as System 1 thinking. In contrast, System 2, or 'slow' mode, is characterized by logical deduction and creative problem-solving, although it can also be faster than we perceive.

According to Kahneman, engaging the slow mode frequently can lead to more insightful and innovative solutions. While it may require more cognitive effort, the 'obvious' answer is not always the best or most creative one. By training our minds to consider more complex and unconventional approaches, we can unlock a wealth of novel ideas and innovative solutions.

Examples to Illustrate the Difference

To better understand the difference, let's look at an illustrative example. Consider a book. When thinking in an ordinary manner, a book is seen as a mere reading material—a collection of pages bound together. However, when thinking creatively, the possibilities are endless.

It can be a support for an uneven table leg. A battle plan for a warrior team. A tool to use as a weapon. A stepstool to reach high shelves. A temporary photo album for organizing memories. A fan to keep cooler on a summer day. Scrap paper for jotting down notes or brainstorming.

These examples demonstrate how creative thinkers can view the same object from multiple perspectives, leading to innovative and outside-the-box solutions. This ability to see things from different angles is a hallmark of creative thinking.

Types of Thinking

Thinking goes beyond just creative and ordinary modes. Other types of thinking include concrete thinking, reflective thinking, and critical thinking. Each has its unique characteristics:

Concrete Thinking: This involves understanding and making decisions based on concrete information and direct experiences with the environment. Reflective Thinking: This type of thinking involves deep reflection on past experiences to understand and learn from them. Critical Thinking: It is a form of thinking that is associated with carefully analyzing information and ideas to form a reasoned judgment. Critical thinking is fundamental to making good decisions and solving problems. Creative Thinking: This is perhaps the most compelling, encouraging us to think outside the box and generate innovative solutions.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the difference between creative thinking and ordinary thinking lies in their ability to generate new ideas and solutions. Creative thinking involves connecting unrelated concepts and challenging the status quo, while ordinary thinking follows predefined patterns and logical deductions. By embracing the slow mode of thinking, we can harness the power of creativity to drive innovation, problem-solving, and personal growth.

Understanding and cultivating these different modes of thinking can greatly enhance our ability to adapt to changing environments, tackle complex challenges, and create impactful solutions.