Technique 6.19 Use of Analogy
The strategy of using personal analogies or anecdotes to move information stored in the subconscious to a more conscious level (thereby making it available for problem-solving) is an effective technique for promoting creativity, eg
In dealing with a problem of water pollution, imagine that you are a polluted river, and describe how it might feel
This allows you to get inside a problem, and view it from a different angle
Types of analogies include
- direct ‐ biological or natural, to provide creative insight
- fantasy ‐ useful in overcoming cultural blocks of creativity; it has been suggested that divining rods and metal detectors came from fantasies of magic wands