Thinking & Decision-Making

Thinking and Decision Making

In decision-making, many different thinking methods must be considered. Some people like to think outside the box or use abstract, creative thoughts to make decisions. This is known as creative thinking. Others prefer to use a style of thinking built on a solid foundation, known as persuasive thinking. Some thinkers prefer to rely on reasoning to make decisions. This is known as logical thinking. When considering these three different thinking styles, many similarities and differences are apparent.

Creative, Persuasive, and Logical Thinking Style Comparison

In comparing the three thinking styles of creativity, persuasive and logical thinking, you will see the importance and the similarities each style have when compared to each other and the skills needed to be effective in our thinking.

First, look at creativity thinking, which take on many forms and can be seen in any range, kind and quantity of responses to any given situation. The ability to think creatively can be found in everyone, because much of our thinking is in some way connected to creativity. It's when an individual is afraid of being rejected for our creative thinking that our ability to think creatively are affected and hinders ones otherwise normal ability come up with new ideas. Two techniques use to help increase creativity in individuals are Brainstorming and Starbursting, brainstorming has been proven to be effective when individuals are working alone instead of in a group setting because it allows the mind to flow from thought to thought having each idea stimulating the other idea. Starbursting is the technique commonly used in a group setting, allowing an individual to explore his or her creative abilities and focus on topics by asking questions. Even though everyone can be creative the act itself may not come as easy to some, therefore, coaxing ones creativity maybe necessary and can be nudged with coaxing the five step process: 1.) The desire to be creative, 2) having knowledge and skills, 3) the Edisonian effort, 4) Using fermentation and insight and 5.) Evaluating one's ability to think creative.

Second, like creative thinking, persuasive thinking is a part of life and is most powerful and enduring when persuasive thinking is both honest and built upon a solid foundation. One of the strongest persuasive structures one can create moves through five steps: establishing credibility, acknowledging the audience's position, construct one's rationale, transplant the root elements and asking for the response. It has been said the persuasion requires more thinking then all other forms of communicating because we must be able to think carefully about how to present ourselves, think thoroughly and empathetically about the audience and at the same time be able to control our emotions.

Lastly, we look at the logic style of thinking critically. This style is equally important as persuasive and creativity thinking and is also a part of our life. Along with creative thought, inductive and deductive logic comprise the bedrock and substance of all our thinking. The ability to think logically and identifying reasoning fallacies in one's own and in others thinking is the heart of critical thinking, in reviewing logical thinking one must be able to use both deductive and inductive thinking. Deductive thinking is the kind of reasoning that begins with two or more premises and derives a conclusion that must follow from those premises; a conclusion that is in fact, contained or hidden in those very premises. Whereas, inductive thinking begins with a set of evidence or observations about some members of a class or about some events.

In conclusion, we have see that all three thinking styles can be applied in our daily lives and can have a profound impact on our way of life and the ability to think critically. From being creative in persuading others to see our way of thinking and making good business decisions, to having our children use creative ways of manipulating our parenting skills, we have to use logic by applying both deductive and inductive reasoning in concluding a reasonable response to our everyday decision making.

Contrasts of Three Thinking Styles

The following three thinking styles of critical thinking: creative, persuasive and logical thinking will be explained and contrasted to show the difference of each thinking style.

Let's start with creative thinking which is an ability to imagine and create something that is new. Creative thinking is being able to generate new idea by combining, changing and reapplying existing ideas. Some creative thinking is brilliant and astonishing while other thoughts are just practical and never been thought of before. Whatever the case theses thoughts are still thought of as creative thinking. Creative thinking is also and attitude which can accept change and newness. Creative thinking is also been willing to play with possibilities, flexibility and look for creative ways of improvement regarding any given situation. Creative thinkers are always working hard to improve ideas and solutions by making gradual alterations and refinement to there work. Creative thinkers know that improvement is always needed (Robert Harris 1998).

The next thinking style is persuasive thinking, the ability to convince an individual on an idea or change to a certain topic. The persuasive thinking process can be approached in various ways. First, an individual must establish his or her creditability because no one wants to listen to anybody who can't be trusted or respected. Then one must develop an expertise in the area that you are trying to influence others in. Another thing is to be warm and friendly and make sure your information is reliable. When you are trying to be persuasive use a tactful tone and don't talk down to a person. Make your presentation clear and concise and present strong evidence to support and explain your position. Some other characteristics of persuasive thinking is using logic and being able to appeal to the person emotions (Robbins, Stephen 2007). In contrast to creative thinking persuasive thinking is more work involving convincing someone where creative thinking is basically using and creating ideas and not necessarily trying to sell them.

This brings me to my final thinking style logical thinking which is a learned mental process in which one uses reasoning, consistency to come to a conclusion. To think logically is to think in steps or a sequential thought process. An example, would be when you are doing a math equation, that should be completed in sequential process. Logical thinking is also being able to think about causes and consequences