SUBSCRIBESUBSCRIBESUBSCRIBE TO PREMIUMHomeHistory & SocietyScience & TechBiographiesAnimals & NatureGeography & TravelArts & CultureProConMoneyGames & QuizzesVideosOn This DayOne Good FactDictionaryNew ArticlesHistory & SocietyHistoryPhilosophy & ReligionPolitics, Law & GovernmentSociety & Social IssuesScience & TechHealth & MedicineScienceTechnologyBiographiesBrowse BiographiesAnimals & NatureBirds, Reptiles & Other VertebratesEnvironmentFossils & Geologic TimeInsects & Other InvertebratesMammalsPlantsGeography & TravelGeography & TravelArts & CultureEntertainment & Pop CultureLiteratureSports & RecreationVisual ArtsImage GalleriesPodcastsSummariesTop QuestionsLists and StoriesBritannica KidsAsk the ChatbotGames & QuizzesHistory & SocietyScience & TechBiographiesAnimals & NatureGeography & TravelArts & CultureProConMoneyVideosthoughtIntroductionDevelopments in the study of thoughtElements of thoughtThe process of thoughtMotivational aspects of thinkingTypes of thinkingProblem solvingThe problem-solving cycle in thinkingStructures of problemsAlgorithms and heuristicsObstacles to effective thinkingExpert thinking and novice thinkingReasoningDeductionInductionOther types of thinkingJudgmentConcept attainmentCreative thinkingReferences & Edit HistoryQuick Facts & Related TopicsImagesthinking summaryHealth & MedicinePsychology & Mental HealthCreative thinkingthoughtTypes of thinkingFacebookXhttps://www.britannica.com/topic/thoughtInternet Encyclopedia of Philosophy - Language of Thought HypothesisPhilArchive - The Mental Files Theory of Singular Thought: A Psychological Perspective (PDF)National Center for Biotechnology Information - PubMed Central - The Power of Thought: The Role of Psychological Attentiveness and Emotional Support in Patient TrajectoriesStanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy - The Language of Thought HypothesisCollege of DuPage Digital Press - Introduction to Psychology - Thinking, Reasoning, and Problem-SolvingVerywell Mind - What Happens to Your Body When You're Thinking?Frontiers - Frontiers in Psychology - The nature of thinking, shallow and deepSocial Sciences LibreTexts - ThinkingUniversity of Southern Queensland - Academic Success - ThinkingD.E. Berlyne
Professor of Psychology, University of Toronto. Author of Structure and Direction in Thinking.AllBritannica Editors
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....HistorycreativitycreativecriterionpersonalitylearningintrinsictangibleidiosyncraticW. Edgar Vinacke
thought, encyclopedia, encyclopeadia, britannica, article
- Thought - Creative, Problem-Solving, Analytical: As discussed above, divergent (or creative) thinking is an activity that leads to new information, or previously undiscovered solutions. Some problems demand flexibility, originality, fluency, and inventiveness, especially those for which the individual must supply a unique solution. (See creativity.) A number of processes or phases have been identified as typical of creative thinking. According to one well-known theory, in the first phase, preparation, the thinker assembles and explores resources, perhaps making preliminary decisions about their value in solving the problem at hand. Incubation represents the next phase, in which the individual mulls over possibilities and shifts from one to