People with ADHD: Pioneers of divergent thinking?

"Thinking outside the box" and ADHD often go hand in hand. This results in a great deal of creativity. This trait should be encouraged and supported.

The dictionary defines "divergent" as "the tendency to be different or to develop in different directions." This applies to people with ADHD. They are known for their "unconventional" thinking, creativity, and sometimes even eccentricity.

The concept of lateral thinking was originally developed by psychologist JP Guilford . His study involved connecting nine points with four straight lines. The pencil was not allowed to be lifted from the paper. Since the concept was introduced in the early 1970s, many people have attempted the task and failed because they didn't think "outside the box."

In a lecture at the Royal Society of Arts, the late, great and inspiring educator Sir Ken Robinson explored the problems caused by the lack of creativity in education. " Changing Education Paradigms " has inspired a multitude of educators since its inception. It is a controversial piece of research because it questions the "plague of ADHD." Sir Ken doesn't deny that ADHD exists—but he argues that the standardized tests widely used in our education system have played a role in the increase in diagnoses among children.

Divergent thinking and its relationship to creativity

On the topic of divergent thinking, JP Guilford explains: "Divergent thinking is not the same as creativity. I define creativity as the process of having original ideas that have value. Divergent thinking is not a synonym, but it is an essential skill for creativity. It is the ability to see many possible answers to a question, many possible ways of interpreting a question. To see multiple answers, not just one."

He goes on to describe a longitudinal study in which the brains of young people were examined as they grew older. Their ability to think divergently declined with age, or, as Sir Ken puts it, "as they were raised."

Our current education system is based on the premise that students should learn convergently, meaning that learning and activities are structured and organized, and routines are rewarded. Divergent thinking is a type of thinking in which ideas develop from other, cross-cutting ideas. A person with ADHD may struggle in a convergent environment, and the education system may become a barrier to their success.

ADHD and divergent thinking play on the same team

In her book " The Edison Trait: Saving the Spirit of Your Nonconforming Child " (1997), clinical psychologist, researcher, and author Lucy Jo Palladino examines the characteristics of divergent thinkers. Although the book isn't about ADHD, the characteristics of a divergent thinker, or "dreamer, explorer, and dynamo," as described in Palladino's book, are so similar to those of someone with ADHD that one might think that ADHD and "inventor" are one and the same.

Palladino describes a boy who was unable to cope with the linear method of learning:

"He was a boy who learned only by doing. At the age of six, he had to see how fire works; and accidentally burned down his father's barn. The following fall, he enrolled in school, where he alternated between letting his mind wander far away and keeping his body in constant motion on his chair. Distractible and restless, he didn't last long in a regular classroom. His teacher called him "addicted." Eventually, his mother had to homeschool him. As an adult, he recalled, "My father thought I was stupid, and I almost decided I must be a fool." The core of his learning was his passion for experimentation...

The boy described was Thomas Edison, the incredible mind who gave us electricity and recorded sound.

Palladino also describes the characteristics of a creative mind:

"A child with the Edison trait makes sudden, astonishing connections. Because their inner critic forbids neither the ridiculous nor the sublime, they can be innovative, inventive, and fascinating. They can see ordinary things in extraordinary ways, which is the very essence of creativity.

Do these descriptions sound familiar? A glance at the school report of a person with ADHD would certainly contain some of these comments.

More examples of divergent thinking and ADHD

David Neeleman , founder of Fortune 500 company JetBlue Airways, had a tough time in school. The standardized tests were problematic and challenging. However, an article in ADDitude Magazine reveals that he also knew he was destined for greatness:

"I knew I had strengths that other people didn't have, and my parents reminded me of them when my teachers didn't see them," says Neeleman. "I can distill complicated issues and find simple solutions. I can look at an industry with all sorts of problems and say, 'How can I do this better?' My ADHD brain naturally looks for ways to do things better."

Emily (34) is the mother of a child with ADHD. She recalls:

"When he was in his first year of school, before his diagnosis, he became a runner. He would run out of the classroom, not to escape, but to find out what was happening in other classrooms. When there was a music lesson, the teacher would find him there. He was returned to his class, but then his bad behavior escalated.

"When he was finally diagnosed with ADHD, I read an article about how music can help children with ADHD . I immediately enrolled him in piano and guitar lessons. Now 18, he's in college and uses a variety of instruments and sounds to create unusual compositions that impressed his tutor at his job interview."

Emily's son is a prime example of 'out-of-the-box thinking,' so whenever you see a new invention or piece of art, or hear a different genre of music, you could be witnessing the creativity of a lateral thinker who just happens to have ADHD.

How can the ADHD strength of divergent thinking be promoted?

Various strategies are suitable for promoting this "lateral thinking." Exercise is very effective. In 2014, researchers investigated the effect of running on creative thinking . In their experiment, they had participants complete creativity tests while seated. The subjects were then sent to a treadmill. They completed the creativity tests again at their own pace. The results were impressive: While moving, the participants were able to improve their test scores by up to 80%. Here are all the tips:

- Go for a walk before or while you want to be creative
- Find a dynamic (varied) environment
- Avoid time pressure, as it inhibits your creativity in the long term
- Reserve a fixed period of time for your task
- Avoid interruptions and distractions
- Work alone or in pairs, not in large groups
- Check your inner attitude, consciously enter a discovery mode
- Take your time to approach the task in an exploratory and playful manner
- Take time to learn new things/concepts that might be useful
- First collect all ideas and suggestions unfiltered
- Then think about how you could implement them
- Only then examine the plans critically and by the principle of elimination