Creative thinking: characteristics and ways to enhance it

Creative thinking allows us to find solutions to new problems, and not only in art.

Creative thinking is the ability to break out of conventional patterns of ideation and to invent new ways to solve problems or to create something using novel techniques. and to invent new ways to solve problems or to create something using novel techniques.

In this article we will examine exactly what this type of thinking consists of, as well as review its main differences with respect to conventional thinking. Finally, we will give a list of tips on how to enhance it in everyday life.

What is creative thinking?

As we mentioned above, creative thinking refers to the way of processing information to find original solutions to new challenges. that arise in life. Everyone has the capacity to utilize the potential of creative thinking, but in some individuals, these kinds of psychological processes are more hegemonic than in others.

People with this type of highly developed thinking are not limited to conventional alternatives, they are explorers. In addition, creative thinking is put to the test whenever we have the need to solve a situation not previously experienced by us.

Generally, we tend to use the conventional lines of reasoning, to which anyone would resort in a similar situation, which is known as the protocol to follow. On the other hand, there is an unimaginable range of new alternatives that we rarely explore, perhaps because we are too tied to conventional solutions, possibly because they work for us and involve less mental effort.

But the reality is that the solutions we know well and use over and over again are not always advantageous, and that is when people get stuck in problems that seemingly have no solution, just because they are not used to using creative thinking on a daily basis.This is when people get trapped in problems that seemingly have no solution, just because they are not used to using creative thinking on a daily basis.

For example: what do we do if our car crashes in the middle of the road and we don't have what we need to repair the breakdown? Do we then let the hours go by without doing anything, just because we don't have the necessary tools? Or are we capable of finding a creative solution to the problem?

Another way of expressing creative thinking is through artistic expression; people who are good at creating art have a type of ability that favors the ability to think creatively.

The relationship between creative thinking and brain plasticity

Brain plasticity is one of the most characteristic properties of the brain, and has to do with the ability of this set of organs to adapt morphologically and functionally to new situations. In other words, the human brain is constantly changing depending, among other things, on the experiences to which we are exposed.

What does this have to do with creativity? Brain plasticity makes it possible for our thinking to adapt quickly to new problems, even taking mental routes never taken before.This is because neurons modify their modes of interconnection depending on what is around us, on the memories we are evoking at that moment, etc. Therefore, if we must look for a neurological basis that explains creative thinking, it is the plasticity of the brain.

How does it differ from conventional thinking?

In the following lines we will see how exactly creative thinking differs from conventional or pragmatic thinking.

1. It does not depend on the relationship between one thing and another.

The main difference between creative and logical-pragmatic thinking is that the former does not depend on linear relationships between one thing and another. does not depend on the linear relationships that exist between two or more objects in order to establish a comparison or idea. in order to establish a comparative or idea.

When thinking is creative, it is based more on abstract principles, which at first glance would not make much sense, but despite not following the conventional patterns of logic, they generate new meanings.

2. It involves more visualization

One of the main characteristics of creative thinking is that it requires a greater visualization capacity than that of conventional thinking. requires a visualization capacity greater than that of structured thinking..

When we look for new alternatives to a situation (creative) we imagine the possible scenarios that we will obtain, while with logical and structured thinking this is usually not so necessary, taking into account that the subject already knows what will happen if he/she does things in the classical way.

3. Psychological exhaustion

Constantly employing creative resources results in a significant wear and tear, as opposed to conventional or conventional resources.This is in contrast to conventional or usual resources, which are based on habit. For that reason, it is very frequent that the inspiration comes to us "in spurts".

4. Constant learning process

Creative thinking involves a constant learning process. Creativity comes from the knowledge that the person has acquired and internalized, and it is from this knowledge that original ideas are born, focused on the needs of the moment. That is, it does not appear from nothing, but is nourished by what is already available in memory in combination with what we think and/or perceive in the here and now.

Tips to enhance this type of cognitive processes

Creative thinking begins to appear in the early stages of development; therefore, children should be encouraged to children should be stimulated to encourage them to be creative from infancy.. The ideal is to provide them with alternatives so that they can freely express their individual abilities without feeling self-conscious or embarrassed.

It is important that the education of young people is always balanced between academics and extracurricular activities, giving equal relevance to all activities that students perform, inside and outside the classroom. In this way, the young person grows up with greater confidence in his or her personal abilities.

The following list contains some useful tips to further develop creative thinking in youth and adults.

1. Encourage the habit of reading.

Reading is a source of knowledge and new ideas that are incorporated into the reader's mind. that are incorporated into the reader's mind. Those who read will always have something to nourish themselves with in order to find creative solutions or to create their own content based on what they have previously read.

2. Live new experiences

Getting out of your comfort zone is essentialThose who stay stuck in a rut will never reach their creative potential. The mind works like a parachute, to make it work you have to open it. The best way is to discover new experiences.

3. Write down your ideas

Creativity often happens when we least expect itIn the queue at the bank or the supermarket, some great ideas often come to our mind. It is advisable to write them down on your cell phone or on a piece of paper so that you can study them better later.

4. Find things you are passionate about

When we find activities that we enjoy, we can be sure that our creative resources will come to the fore during the execution of these practices. Passion and creativity go hand in hand, and they come together so that we achieve unique things when we enjoy doing something we love.

5. Participate in group or collective creative processes.

Writing a story with four hands, making a mural, composing a song for a rock band... are examples of creative processes in which the ideas of some are supported by those of others in a dynamic process. It is a great way to get used to adopting other points of view..

Bibliographical references:

• Amabile, T. M. and Pratt, M. G. (2016). The dynamic componential model of creativity and innovation in organizations: Making progress, making meaning. Research in Organizational Behavior. 36: pp. 157 - 183.
• Cropley, D.H.; Cropley, A.J.; Kaufman, J.C.; et al., eds. (2010). The Dark Side of Creativity. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
• Csikszenmihalyi, M. (1998). Creatividad. El fluir y la psicología del descubrimiento y la invención. Paidós. Barcelona.
• Fuchs, E.; Flügge, G. (2014). Adult neuroplasticity: more than 40 years of research. Neural Plasticity, 5: 541870.
• Marina, J.A. (1993). Teoría De La Inteligencia Creadora. Barcelona: Anagrama.
• Monreal, C.A. (2000). Qué es la creatividad. Madrid: Biblioteca Nueva.
• Park, D.C.; Huang, C.M. (2010). Culture Wires the Brain. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 5(4): pp. 391 - 400.