Lateral Thinking

Lateral thinking is a phrase coined by Edward de Bono in contrast to conventional or vertical thinking. Conventional thinking moves in a predictable, direct fashion. Lateral thinking attacks a problem from the side. de Bono defines the four main aspects of lateral thinking as follows:

• The recognition of dominant polarizing ideas
• The search for different ways of looking at things
• A relaxation of the rigid control of vertical thinking
• The use of chance