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Synectics
Synectics is the process of finding links between seemingly disconnected elements. It's a way of mentally taking things apart putting them together to make original ideas. The term synectics from the Greek word synectikos, which means "bringing different things into connection."
Since creativity involves the coordination of things into new configurations, many creative thoughts and actions draw on synectic thinking. Synectics assumes that all things, regardless of their dissimilarity, can somehow be linked together, in some way. These natural, or sometimes forced relationships can yield interesting ideas.
Action Steps.
- Attempt to find similarities in thoughts by arranging them into categories. Finding categories of similarity itself may be a creative challenge.
- Inject random elements into your project from which to find synectic relationships. You can find random words here.
- Seek out any natural relationships between the elements (they are both organic, they are both objects, etc.) and see if you can build any ideas on those connections.
- Go opposite--what makes the elements different (one is living and the other is not, one is a person the other is an animal, etc.) and can those differences yield ideas?
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