Psychology2016

Cognition: Thinking, Intelligence, and Language 275

blindness or deafness due to inattention. In one study, researchers found that when
faced with a very demanding visual task, participants lost the ability to detect
auditory information (Molloy et al., 2015).
While it might be tempting to think of one’s self as a “supertasker,” research
suggests otherwise. When tested on driving simulators while having to perform
successfully on two attention-demanding tasks, more than 97 percent of individuals
are unable to do so without significant impacts on their performance. During the
dual-task condition, only 2.5 percent of individuals were able to perform without
problems (Watson & Strayer, 2010). Research also suggests the people that are most
likely to talk on their cell phone while driving, as indicated by self-report, are actu-
ally the worst at multitasking when tested (Sanbonmatsu et al., 2013). It is estimated
that at least 27 percent of all traffic crashes are caused by drivers using their cell
phone and/or texting (National Safety Council, 2015).

Creativity

7.5 Recall some characteristics of creative, divergent thinking.

So far, we’ve only talked about logic and pretty straightforward

thinking. How do people come up with totally new ideas, things no

one has thought of before?

Not every problem can be answered by using information already at hand and the rules
of logic in applying that information. Sometimes a problem requires coming up with
entirely new ways of looking at the problem or unusual, inventive solutions. This kind
of thinking is called creativity: solving problems by combining ideas or behavior in new
ways (Csikszentmihalyi, 1996; pronounced chĭck-sĕnt-mē-HĪ-ē). Before we learn more,
take the survey What Is Creativity? to examine your own beliefs about creativity.

The driver of this train was texting from his cell phone

immediately before this crash that killed 25 people and

injured more than 130 others.

The logical method for problem solving that has been discussed so far is based
on a type of thinking called convergent thinking. In convergent thinking, a problem is
seen as having only one answer, and all lines of thinking will eventually lead to (con-
verge on) that single answer by using previous knowledge and logic (Ciardiello, 1998).
For example, the question “In what ways are a pencil and a pen alike?” can be answered

creativity

the process of solving problems by

combining ideas or behavior in new

ways.

convergent thinking

type of thinking in which a problem is

seen as having only one answer, and

all lines of thinking will eventually

lead to that single answer, using previ-

ous knowledge and logic.

Simulate the Experiment What Is Creativity?

Survey WHAT IS CREATIVITY?

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INTRODUCTION SURVEY RESULTS

Interactive

This survey asks you about your

attitudes toward and experiences with a

broad range of psychological principles

and theories.

Click Next to begin the survey