CREATIVE THINKING ( Blocks & Methods )

Blocks to creativity

While trying to develop creative thinking, we might find several conditions that make the going rocky and tough. We ought to know what these conditions are so that we can manoeuvre our way through the hazardous regions with ease. Rawlinson (1994), Wycoff (1986), Harris (1998) and quite a number of other scholars have tried to list a few of these barriers. As an understanding of these barriers would enable us to handle them effectively, some of these barriers are listed below:

1. One of the biggest blocks to creativity is the voice within us that keeps continually telling us the reasons as to why something cannot be done, or why something won't work. We should not allow our mind to be plagued by doubt. A freewheeling of novel ideas will be possible only when we suspend the negative thoughts that befog our mind.
2. Application of logic too early in the thinking process is another block to creativity. This can close off avenues of thought that may have produced the breakthrough ideas, had they been followed to their logical end.
3. Insistence on the right answer is another killer of creativity. If we emphasize this aspect, we get very little practice in generating new ideas.
4. Insistence on sticking to the rules is also harmful to creativity. Rules are important. However, they need to be set aside for a while so as to allow unruly thoughts to play around.
5. Avoidance of ambiguity can be another block to creativity. When ideas are fuzzy, the mind works harder to probe for new connections and patterns. This process can lead to new ideas and discoveries.
6. Fear of committing error can keep you away from taking chances. Creativity involves a leap into the unknown.
7. Fear to toy with elements can mar your creativity. It is when messing about with ideas that new ideas generally emerge.
8. Many avoid new territories as children avoid darkness. New discoveries often happen when exploring areas that are still unexplored.
9. Fear of being looked upon as foolish can similarly do harm to our creativity.
10. Feeling of not being creative can as well act as an impediment to creativity.
11. The feeling that one is an expert can close oneself off to new input and new ideas. This over-confidence is harmful to creativity.
12. Succumbing to rejection is equally harmful to creativity. Failure or rejection is to be seen as just another bit of information. When others do not recognize the value of what you are doing, you feel rejected. Learning to deal with failure, rejection and frustration, says Wycoff (1986), is a critical part of the creative process.

Methods that lead to creativity

Several methods that lead to creativity have been identified. As it would be beneficial to know about them, a few of them are briefly dealt with below:

1. Evolution

Most of the things that we use in our day-to-day life are things that have taken their present shape as a result of incremental improvement. Take, for example, the automobiles or the computers that we use today. They Ire the improved versions of the prototypes produced in the beginning. Each new model is built upon the collective creativity of the previous models. As a result, with the passage of time, everything would attain Improvement in economy, comfort, durability, etc. Here creativity lies in refinement as a result of gradual change.

2. Synthesis

Often two or more existing ideas are combined together to create something novel and useful. For example, the combination of the idea of a magazine and an audiotape has given rise to a magazine to which you can listen to - a new device that is very useful to the blind.

3. Revolution

This method refers to creation of a thing entirely different from the existing one. A lecturer, for example, in his attempt to improve his ways of teaching, may think of giving up lecturing altogether and have the students teach each other by getting them to work in teams, presenting research data and reports, etc. This method, unlike that of evolution, refers to changes that are sudden and drastic.

4. Reapplication

An idea or a device, originally intended for something else, is used to do something beyond its original plan. For example, when someone uses a general-purpose spray cleaner for the purpose of killing ants or cockroaches, he is resorting to the method of creativity known as reapplication.

5. Changing direction

Many a creative breakthrough has been found occurring when attention is shifted from one angle of a problem to another. If we become overcommitted to a method that does not work, the result will only be frustration. If one system is not working, we need to look at another angle. This can lead to solution of the problem which otherwise would not have been possible. 

• Characteristics of creative persons

  They are curious
  They seek out problems
  They enjoy challenges
  They see problems as challenges
  They are optimistic
  They fantasize
  They are non-conforming
  They have a sense of humour
  They are uninhibited
  They are emotionally sensitive
  They are able to suspend judgement
  They have a strong sense of perseverance and do not give up easily
  They show no signs of frustration when confronted with failure

  Activities 

  
  

  1) How many shapes can you create from 8 straight lines? 

  
  

  2) Design a robot to assist you in different ways, at home and at the place of work.

  3) Design a suitable school bag, a kite, a Raakhi, a web-page for your website, etc.

• Conclusion

In the course of this discussion on creativity, we have seen for ourselves what creativity is, why it is important, what blocks creativity and what enhances creativity. We have also identified a few of the classic methods of creativity. Above all, we have discussed several of the modalities that could be used for developing creative thinking skills. It is certain that, with the help of the information and methods suggested here, you would not fail to equip yourself with the skill involved in creative thinking.