What Is Vertical Thinking?

Vertical thinking (Vertical thinking), also known as logical thinking or convergent thinking ^[1] . It refers to a logical, traditional way of thinking to solve difficult problems. The opposite concept is horizontal thinking.

Vertical and horizontal thinking is an ad creative thinking method advocated by British psychologist Edward Debno, so this method is often called Debno theory. Traditional thinking is based on a certain thinking line or thinking logic, upward or downward vertical thinking method. This is a self-expanding method of the mind.

Dr. Edward Debono, a British psychologist, made a detailed comparison of these two ways of thinking, mainly including the following ten items:

1. Vertical thinking is selective and horizontal thinking is endless;

2. The movement of vertical thinking only moves when there is a direction, and the movement of horizontal thinking is to create a new direction;

3, vertical thinking is step by step, horizontal thinking can jump around;

4. Vertical thinking is analytical; horizontal thinking is inspiring;

5. Vertical thinkers must be correct at every step. Horizontal thinkers do not have to.

6. Vertical thinking uses negation in order to close certain channels, and horizontal thinking has no negation.

7. Vertical thinking should focus on excluding irrelevant people, and horizontal thinking welcomes new things;

8. Use vertical thinking, categories, classifications, and names are fixed. Horizontal thinking is not necessary.

9. Vertical thinking follows the most likely approach, while horizontal thinking explores the most unlikely approach;

10. Vertical thinking is an infinite process, and horizontal thinking is a probabilistic process.