Lateral thinking is the ability to find an unusual way out of an ordinary situation. How often in your life have you followed public opinion, generally accepted rules and conventions? Or, perhaps, were they guided by stereotypes imposed by the people around them? Such actions have a lot of unpleasant features. Any mistakes unsettle you, cause apathy and even depression. Lateral thinking will help to avoid such problems.
What is lateral thinking
By definition, lateral thinking (from the Latin lateralis - side) is the ability to take a non-standard, unusual and often unexpected approach to solving a problem. A person finds options for action that are not subject to logical explanation. Using lateral thinking helps you be creative and find completely new ways to solve problems. By the way, people who made historical discoveries possessed this type of mental activity.
In psychology, thinking is divided into two types:
- Convergent. When solving problems, a person conducts a thorough analysis, compares facts, and comes to a single result.
- Divergent. A person tries to find many options for solving a problem at once, using creativity.
Lateral thinking is often compared to divergent thinking. In his case, people are also exploring several directions. British psychologist Edward de Bono spoke a lot about the ability to think outside the box. Here are some of his conclusions:
- Stereotypes are limiting. Let's give an example. Many people who are poisoned by ice cream no longer buy it. On the one hand, they create imaginary security for themselves. On the other hand, this is a template that most likely does not coincide with reality. It no longer works, but a person cannot do otherwise.
- The use of templates and stereotypes has nothing to do with lateral thinking. It kills the ability to think creatively, creatively. Remember the expression “step on a rake”? So, these are the templates. If such situations happen to you over and over again, it’s time to think about it.
- Edward de Bono gave an interesting illustrative example. Imagine a sandbox and a watering can. What happens if you start pouring water on sand? Some of it will spread. The rest of the liquid will make a well in which it will be collected. Water in this case is information entering the brain. Sand is the brain, and the well is a stereotype. The ability to think laterally is the formation of grooves that will release water and prevent the stereotype from deepening and gaining a foothold in consciousness.
- Without the ability to make unexpected decisions, you cannot live fully. You don't have to do this all the time. But it is necessary to develop such a skill.
And one more interesting fact. People who are accustomed to living according to stereotypes and patterns will never come up with something new and interesting.
By the way, de Bono is the author of a number of books on the development of thinking. “The Art of Thinking: Lateral Thinking as a Way to Solve Complex Problems”, “Why are we so stupid? When will humanity learn to think,” “Thinking Management.” These and other publications will teach you creativity, the ability to think differently than everyone else.
Why is lateral thinking needed?
In theory, it seems that developing the ability to think laterally is not so necessary. And really, why? After all, there is logic. One feature is worth considering here. Using logic, a person builds a clear sequence of actions. In practice, any retreat, mistake or mistake unsettles you and leads to a completely different result.
Thinking in stereotypes and patterns helps save time when making decisions. Most actions are performed automatically. And it seems to be good. But! Firstly, not all problems can be solved using templates. Secondly, following standards prevents the implementation of fresh ideas and making discoveries. As a result, a person does not develop and stands still.
It turns out that the main task of lateral thinking is to teach a person to think in several directions simultaneously. Yes, there will be mistakes and difficulties along the way. But well-developed intuition, creativity and a sense of humor will help either bypass them or eliminate them.
Test your knowledge
If you want to test your knowledge on the topic of this lesson, you can take a short test consisting of several questions. For each question, only 1 option can be correct. After you select one of the options, the system automatically moves on to the next question. The points you receive are affected by the correctness of your answers and the time spent on completion. Please note that the questions are different each time and the options are mixed.
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Evgeny Buyanov
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Lateral thinking process
Consists of three stages:
- Selecting focus. In order to learn to think laterally, you need to have an idea. It will help you decide on the direction of movement, the area of creative activity, and will become the basis. Without it, it will not be possible to create something truly new and creative.
- Lateral gap. After you find an idea, you need to break the patterns, the generally accepted framework, and expand the stereotypes. You will have to break the logic of your idea. Move it a little to the side, change the focus.
- Making connections. So the pattern is broken. Logic is broken. What to do next? This may sound absurd. But try to find something logical in the new way of thinking. This is incredibly difficult to do. But only in this way will you come to something new.
Lateral thinking is applicable in all areas of life. It helps to push the boundaries of consciousness. Often a person perceives very little information. Because of this, he sees only one way to solve problems. He focuses only on it, subconsciously resisting other options.
The ability to think outside the box will help you find not one, but many ways of action. Sometimes they will be unusual, even absurd.
It happens
To better understand the essence of lateral thinking, I will give an example. Imagine a family in which the spouses have been living together for a long time. Many women periodically start nagging their husbands: “You didn’t even notice that I cut my hair/colored my hair/bought a new dress, etc.” Yes, love and attraction to her as a woman faded over the years and turned into a habit
Her presence has become so commonplace that you stop paying attention to what was so valuable before
Or the wife stops noticing her husband’s masculinity, paying attention only to the socks scattered around the apartment and old sweatpants with outstretched knees. What to do? How to look at your partner in a new way? There may be many ways, but in any case you will try to see your object in a new quality
Make an unexpected visit to your significant other's work and watch how he/she smartly manages his/her affairs. Impressive?
What to do? How to look at your partner in a new way? There can be many ways, but in any case you will try to see your object in a new quality. Make an unexpected visit to your significant other's work and watch how he/she smartly manages his/her affairs. Impressive?
But all you had to do was change your view of your partner
Pay attention to traits that were previously inaccessible to you. The usual perception of the spouse will change dramatically
As you correctly understand, this simple everyday example has now shown the principles of how lateral thinking works.
Lateral thinking methods
Edward de Bono proposed four methods.
Six thinking hats
A well-known and no less popular method in psychology is lateral thinking. Proves that multiple ideas can coexist successfully with each other. Helps you look at problems from different angles. So imagine that you have six hats of different colors. Each of them is responsible for one of the approaches:
- White. This is the information sphere. Tells us what we know at the moment, what we need to know, what facts, figures, news there are. All this should relate to the issue at hand.
- Red. Feelings, sensations, emotions related to the task.
- Green. Search for unusual solutions, interesting ideas.
- Black. Responsible for doubts, criticism, possible difficulties, shortcomings of the idea and shortcomings.
- Yellow. This is optimism. Shows the idea only from its positive sides. Introduces the benefits of its implementation, discusses the advantages.
- Blue. This hat belongs to the presenter. He has to put everything that was said together.
You can do this exercise independently or in a group.
Synectic Assault
It suggests a combination of incompatible things. According to Edward de Bono, this exercise destroys patterns and stereotypes, and also activates the brain. The technique consists of four parts:
- Think about how people most often solve a problem.
- Answer the question: how would I solve this problem?
- Briefly describe the situation.
- Imagine how a historical or fictional hero would act.
After carefully analyzing each point, you will find a non-standard way out of any situation.
Random word
This method can be used in group and independent classes. It is needed in cases where conversation participants are running out of ideas. Invite everyone to name the word that first came to mind. And then try to find its connection with the problem being solved. As you make connections, you will undoubtedly find new solutions. And also look at the situation from an unexpected angle.
Going beyond
The solution to any problem or task is limited within certain limits. This is the budget, time frame, resources. And it is not always possible to expand these boundaries. But try to imagine that you managed to do it. What would you do in this case? Surely you would have hundreds of new, unusual ideas.
Six hats
This is one of the most popular methods, which is based on non-standard thinking. Its creator is the same E. de Bono. What is the essence of the approach? This method allows you to look at a problem from different angles, using parallel thinking, in which different approaches and ideas do not collide, but calmly coexist.
Why hats? There are several reasons for this: each hat has its own color, which distinguishes it from others and gives it unique features. The hat can be easily changed, this will also lead to a change in the direction of thoughts. Each hat is like a special mode. We can easily exchange hats for shoes - it doesn't matter. So, from the point of view of which regimes is the problem considered?
This method can be used both individually and in a group. It develops mental flexibility, the ability to be creative, helps make decisions and overcome creative impasse
Great for understanding non-standard ideas, if you need to take into account every opinion, look at the situation from different points of view
It seems to me that lateral thinking is best developed in children. Their brains are not yet filled with many stereotypes, they trust their intuition, do not have many fears (unlike adults), they have no embarrassment that they will now say a stupid, or inconvenient, or absurd idea. Remember the expression: “Through the mouth of a child the truth speaks”? Well, if not truth, then creativity for sure. So let's remain a little children.
Good luck breaking stereotypes to you! Don't be afraid to try new things - it's worth it.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=iyCcmCaY5ds
How to develop lateral thinking
Don't be discouraged if you can't think outside the box. This skill can be developed. There are a number of ways:
- Look for new ideas in all areas.
- Forget about the stereotypes others use to make decisions.
- Doubt it.
- Consider several options to solve the problem at once.
- Spend time solving lateral thinking problems.
- Think about how you can use old things in creative ways.
- Take a creative approach to even everyday tasks.
- Learn to enjoy thinking and searching for new ideas.
Interestingly, the development of lateral thinking occurs most rapidly in young children. There are no patterns or stereotypes in their subconscious; they act according to intuition, and are not afraid to laugh at themselves and their mistakes. They also often offer things that are absurd for adults. This is the ability to think outside the box.
Lateral thinking tasks
Try your hand at interesting riddles:
- Imagine a cafe visitor who has a fly floating in his cup of coffee. He called the waiter and asked to change the order. The waiter did just that. But the visitor is again not happy. He claims that they brought him the same coffee. How did he understand this?
- The chess players played five games between them. Everyone lost and won the same number of times. However, there was not a single draw. How did this happen?
- So, two people are on a tour of a coal mine. When they came out, it turned out that one had a dirty face and the other did not. The one who was clean went to wash himself. But his friend is not. Why?
- Twenty members of a symphony orchestra play for the audience. However, no one listens to them. What is the reason?
Were you able to answer at least one question? Show innovative thinking. You will see that everything is banally simple.
Exercises to develop lateral thinking
How else can you develop lateral thinking? Regularly performing simple but effective exercises.
- Come up with stupid, frivolous, absurd ideas. To make it easier, take an illustrated magazine. Open any picture and imagine what is happening in it. Don't be trivial. Don't state the obvious. Show your imagination, creativity and originality. Happened? You are on the right track.
- Play "Danetki". It's better to do this in the company of friends. Come up with an interesting situation. Ask each other questions so that you can only answer “yes” or “no.” With their help, find out why the hero acted this way and not otherwise.
- Do experiments, take risks. Let us give a banal example familiar to many. The woman had several unsuccessful relationships. As a result, she began to think that all men were the same. But if you think about it, something common will appear between them. Let it be an addiction to computer games. This feature will become fixed in the woman’s brain as a template. And she will choose only such men. And after another failure, I can say that I am again convinced that I am right. Lateral thinking in this case will help change the usual course of events.
Exercise as often as possible. You will soon find that you look at everyday things in a completely different way.
