Convergent thinking is cognitive activity that narrows down to the best possible solution”. “Convergent thinking refers to thinking that is required to solve problems which have only one correct answer”, (Solso, 2006).

1. Convergent Thinking
Dr Rajesh Verma
Assistant Professor in Psychology
Govt. College Adampur, Hisar (Haryana)

2. Meaning
Literary meaning of Convergent
“coming closer together or
tend to meet at a point”.
In psychological terms,
“tending to follow only
well-established patterns
of thinking”.

3. Definition
“Convergent thinking is cognitive activity that
narrows down to the best possible solution”.
“Convergent thinking refers to thinking that is
required to solve problems which have only one correct
answer”, (Solso, 2006).
“Convergent thinking
is the type of thinking that
focuses on coming up with
the single, well-established
answer to a problem”
(Arthur, 2006).

4. Introduction
The word Convergent Thinking was coined by
J P Guilford (1950). In convergent thinking the
thought process is confined in finding the single
solution. The mind converges to the correct solution
(Solso, 2006). Mostly
convergent thinking
is used and applied
in academic circles
where students are
asked to reproduce
facts, figures and
desired solutions.

5. “Convergent thinking is associated with analysis,
judgment, and decision-making. It is the process of
taking a lot of ideas and sorting them, evaluating
them, analyzing the pros and cons, and making
decisions,”(wrike.com). Most of the natural sciences
demands
analytical &
deductive
reasoning
which is the
product of
convergent
thinking.

6. It works where a problem has single solution. The
most of the IQ tests are measures of convergent
thinking. The various ideas, facts, information which
are related to the problem at hand are synthesized to
arrive at the unique solution. Interestingly if two or
more than two people are involved in solving one
problem, they
are expected
to think in
similar
lines.

7. Characteristics
1. The thought process is unidirectional.
2. It is the cognitive process of searching
of only solution.
3. It reprocesses the information stored
in the semantic memory to arrive at
desired solution.
4. The availability and accessibility
of facts speed up convergent thinking.
5. It explores all possible relationships
among the facts to arrive at the solution.

8. 6. The convergent thinking involves goal directed
specific thinking.
7. When dealing with complex or difficult problems, at
some level convergent thinking involves divergent thinking
too.
8. Logical, analytical and deductive contents form the
major chunk of convergent thinking.
9. Convergent thinking
involves visualization
and mental imagery.
10. Convergent thinking
is the function of formal
education and
accumulation of
general knowledge.

9. Creative Problems that Activates Convergent
Thinking Part of Your Brain!?&%#
During convergent thinking the thought process
revolves around the expected solution.
1. Find the odd one out.
3, 37, 43, 11, 59, 101, 119
2. 2+2x2 = ??
3. Which lung is
larger in size?
4. A four wheeler
has how many
moving wheels?

10. References:
1. NCERT, XI Psychology Text book.
2. Solso, R. S . (2006). Cognitive Psychology. New Delhi: Pearson.
3. Ciccarelli, S. K. & Meyer, G. E. (2016). Psychology. New Delhi:
Pearson.
4. https://www.wrike.com/blog/convergent-thinking-vs-divergent-
thinking/.
5. https://phys.org/news/2016-04-myth-scientific-artistic-mind.html.
6. Cropley, Arthur
(2006). "In Praise of
Convergent Thinking".
Creativity Research
Journal. 18 (3): 391–404.
doi:10.1207/s15326934crj
1803_13.

11. vermasujit@yahoo.com
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Discussion
Divergent Thinking