Lateral thinking

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A literal interpretation of the phrase "Think outside the box". A genuine illustration from Wikipedia. I kid you not.
A lateral thinker's approach to spreading brotherly love
An example of lateral thinking from Teh Arts - Darth Pigeon.

Lateral thinking is the term used for the process of changing the topic of conversation to something surreal to disguise one’s own ignorance of the subject under discussion.

The phrase "lateral thinking" was coined by Edward de Bono, a Malteser. Maltesers consist of a spherical malt honeycomb centre, surrounded by milk chocolate, and are designed to make fat people think that they are less fattening because they weigh less than a bar of lard [1].

Lateral thinking in politics

Lateral thinking in popular culture

Lateral thinking in the business world

For example;

Q. An airplane crashes exactly on the border between Arizona and California. The two pilots and seven passengers are not identifiable in any way. How do public officials decide where to bury the survivors?

A. When you reread the question and realize it talks about burying "survivors," the answer is obvious: Only the Mojave Desert is remote enough to prevent anyone from hearing the tormented screams as dirt is shovelled onto their faces.



Lateral thinking is part of a series on Psychology
Antisocial personality disorder Hannibal Lector.jpg Mental illness & Disorders

AgoraphobiaAnorexiaAntisocial personality disorderAnthropophobiaAudiophiliaADDADHDAutismBipolarBorderline personality disorderCarmen Electra complexDeep thinkerDepressionDyslexiaEating disorderFauxlimiaFeminismFursonaGender dysphoriaHistrionic Personality DisorderHomophiliaHutchence's SyndromeInadequacyInconsistent personality disorderInsanity'Missing White Woman' SyndromeMultiple personality disorderNapoleon ComplexNarcissistic personality disorderNeurotypicalObsessive-compulsive disorderParanoiaParanoid personality disorderParaphiliaPeter Pan SyndromePost-Traumatic Stress DisorderPsychopathyRetardsSchizophreniaSelf-diagnosisSocial anxiety disorderSpecial Snowflake SyndromeVictim complex

E-Psychosis:

Chronic Troll SyndromeDeletionismE-goE-PsychiatristE-PsychiatryETDGodwin's LawHeisenberg Uncertainty PrincipleHivemindI-DosingI have a 140 IQImaginary girlfriendInternet Disease & Internet Disease ChartInternet Fuckwad TheoryInternet troll personality disorderLulz-BlindnessTrigger Warning

Experiments:

ask.fmBrainwashingHypnosisMilgram ExperimentScientologyStanford Prison ExperimentThe Hivemind Corollary

See also:

ConscienceDreamDSMEnlightenmentIntelligencePsychiatristyThe Law of Conformity
Series:
Abnormal PsychAutism CasesBiologyScience


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