What does divergent thinking involve?

Divergent thinking involves expanding the picture of the problem, which is essential in the creative problem-solving process. It encourages individuals to generate multiple ideas and solutions rather than restricting themselves to a single approach. This type of thinking is often characterized by brainstorming and free association, allowing people to explore numerous possibilities and viewpoints. By broadening the scope of consideration, divergent thinking fosters creativity and innovation, making it a critical component in addressing complex problems where traditional methods may fall short.

The other choices reflect approaches that are more aligned with convergent thinking, which focuses on narrowing down ideas, pinpointing a singular solution, or analyzing past outcomes to make decisions. Such methods are important but serve a different purpose compared to the exploratory nature of divergent thinking.