Conceptual Blocks

by Kevin Kenneth D. de Leos

The human mind is a very powerful and complicated tool. It allows us to understand situations and conditions in our environment. But when the human mind is faced with problems, it has the possibility to generate solutions that does not help in being a creative problem solver. Being a creative problem solver is important because it delivers exemplary solutions and performances.

Some of the concepts that prevent a person from solving problems creatively are called conceptual blocks. Conceptual blocks are either pre-established methods or routine human

actions that may result in boring or unsatisfactory solutions.

In order to understand the use of avoiding conceptual blocks, one must know its kinds

and categories.

A. Constancy – this is the act of reusing a solution of a previous problem. This also happens when an individual only uses one approach in defining and solving the problem

Kinds of Constancy:

i. Vertical thinking – looking into problems with only 1 perspective without considering other perspectives

ii. One thinking language – not using other languages in defining a problem

B. Commitment – this is the act of committing oneself in a set of beliefs that will work based from past experiences. Solutions used are the same solutions that were used in previous problems.

Kinds of Commitment:

i. Streotyping based on past experiences – situation wherein present problems are the same as past problems

ii. Ignoring commonalities – situation wherein an individual fails to look for common things in problems that may appear different in the beginning

C. Compression – this is the act of simplifying solutions in order to solve a problem quickly.

Kinds of Compression:

i. Distinguishing figure from ground – the act of not filtering irrelevant information or looking for the important information

ii. Artificial constraints – the act of setting narrow boundaries

D. Complacency – this is the act of coming up with creative solutions because of laziness or giving up too easily in generating ideas

Kinds of Complacency:

i. Non-inquisitiveness- the act of not asking questions

ii. Non-thinking- the act of not generating ideas

References:

Wright State University (N.D.). Creative Problem Solving. Internet. Retrieved July 20, 2010 from, http://www.wright.edu/~scott.williams/LeaderLetter/cps.htm

N.A (N.D.). Habits that block Creativity. Internet. Retrieved July 20, 2010 from, http://http-server.carleton.ca/~gkardos/88403/CREAT/Block4.html