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California State University, Dominguez Hills
University of Wisconsin, Parkside
Soka University Japan, Transcend Art and Peace
Created: October 29, 2001
Latest Update: November 5, 2001
jeannecurran@habermas.org

Convergent and Divergent Thinking

On Friday, October 12, 2001, Robert Walker wrote:

Dear Jeanne,

I hope everything is going well for you. I am writing to you regarding the lecture on October 9, 2001: Transforming discourse. I learned that there are two types of learning:

1. Convergent thinking means you know the right answer. For example: If I know that 2+2=4 and that a cat is a mammal, I have just exercised convergent thinking.

2. Divergent thinking is when someone looks for creative answers. For example, you may feel that tests are structurally violent. On the other hand Ms. Coleman the math teacher may not. However if each of you gives a convincing argument to one another, each of you may be persuaded.
   jeanne's comment

   Not quite, Robert. By exploring the idea that tests are structurally violent, I am taking a creative path, looking for different answers and explanations. On the other hand, Ms. Coleman is using convergent thinking, and going along with the accepted, "right" answer. The thing is that sometimes the "right" answer isn't right after all, and without divergent thinking we might never discover that.

   I was also able to learn that dominant discourse is a bad thing because it puts a constraint on our imagination.

   jeanne's comment

   No, Robert. Dominant discourse is not bad. It just is. It is what we expect most people to think and to believe. It's the "right answer" of discourse. It does constrain the imaginary, so that we must develop divergent thinking skills to overcome that constraint on the imaginary.

   It can tell us what the world is thinking, whether good or bad.

   jeanne's comment

   No, it has nothing to do with good or bad. It is just what most people are thinking. Opinion polls can tell us what the world is thinking, sort of . . . if you happen to believe in opinion polls.

   Jeanne, it is unfortunate that we live in a world full of confusion. However, planning will help a great deal when it comes to confusion.
   jeanne's comment

   What a weird conclusiion, Robert. We weren't talking about confusion. We were talking of different ways of thinking about the world - either shaping our thoughts to a "right answer" or searching out new ways of thinking. It's true. Planning will help confusion. But some things can't be planned. When we need to find new solutions, then we have to depend on divergent thinking.

   Sincerely,
   Robert Walker