CHAPTER 3

Blocks to Creativity
Blocks and Blockbusters to Lateral
Thinking
Checking
Making assumptions assumptions

Following the rules Breaking the rules

The green box is the

The blue box is the solution
basic creativity problem
Blocks and Blockbusters to Creativity

Use imagination
Over-reliance on logic
and intuition

Fear of failure Risk-taking culture

 Types of creativity block
Mental obstacles that constrain
Conceptual
the way the problem is defined
blocks
and limit the number of
alternative solutions thought to be
relevant
 Factor Contributing to Conceptual
Blocks
The more formal
education
individuals have The less able
they are to solve
problem in
The more creative ways…
experience they
have in a job
 Factor Contributing to Conceptual
Blocks in Detail

“right answers”,
Formal education
analytical rules, or
often produces… Individuals
thinking boundaries
lose the ability
to experiment,
improvise,
proper ways of doing
and take
Experience in job things, specialized
knowledge, and rigid mental
teaches…..
expectation of detours
appropriate actions
 Types of Conceptual Blocks

Vertical thinking
Constancy
One thinking language

Distinguishing figure
Non-inquisitiveness
from ground
Complacency
Artificial constraint
Non-thinking
Constancy
• Defining problem in only one way without
Vertical considering alternative views
thinking • Lateral thinkers, on the other hand,
generate alternative ways of viewing a
problem and produce multiple definitions

• Using only one language (e.g., words) to

One define and assess the problem
thinking
• Disregarding other language such as
language
nonverbal or symbolic languages (e.g.,
mathematics), sensory imagery (smelling),
feelings and emotions (fear, happiness)
and visual imagery (mental pictures).
Complacency

Non- • Not asking questions

inquisitiveness • Sometimes the inability to solve
(eager for problems results from a reticence to ask
knowledge)
questions, to obtain information, or to
search for data.

• An inclination to avoid doing mental work.

Non-thinking
Myths about Creativity

1. The smarter you are, the more creative you

are

2. The young are more creative than the old

3. Creativity is reserved for the few

4. Creativity is a solitary act

5. You can’t manage creativity

 CHAPTER SUMMARY

1.What blocks creativity

2. How to overcome the obstacles
3. Types of creativity blocks
 Referencess
Wright State University. Creative Problem Solving in
Xerox Corporation. [Online] Available :http://www.
wright.edu/~scott.williams/LeaderLetter/cps.htm
[Accessed 24 July 2010]

John, A. (2009) The art of creative thinking: how to b

e innovative and develop great ideas. London: Kogan
Page

Lucas, B. (2001) Power Up Your Mind. London: Nic

holas Brealey Publishing