Lateral thinking

The term Lateral Thinking was created by Edward De Bono in 1967.

• It is a way of thinking concerned with changing concepts ans perception. Meaning that we should not go for thing that already exist, but to change those things.
• It also teaches you that sometimes you would be better of changing parts of your life instead of trying over and over again with no further results.
• "The brain as a self-organising information system forms asymmetric patterns. In such systems there is a mathematical need for moving across patterns. The tools and processes of lateral thinking are designed to achieve such 'lateral' movement. The tools are based on an understanding of self-organising information systems". This is a technical definition which depends on an understanding of self-organising information systems.
• "In any self-organising system there is a need to escape from a local optimum in order to move towards a more global optimum. The techniques of lateral thinking, such as provocation, are designed to help that change". This is another technical definition. It is important because it also defines the mathematical need for creativity.

Lateral Thinking is more concerned with the movement value of statements and ideas. A person would use lateral thinking when they want to move from one known idea to creating new ideas.