Reasoning outside the box: Divergent thinking is related to logical reasoning

When people reason, they do so in a way that suggests they are thinking beyond the premises and actively using background knowledge. This study explored the hypothesis that divergent thinking, a key component of creativity, is a unique predictive factor of logical reasoning. A total of 96 adults completed a divergent thinking task and logical reasoning problems with varying forms and contents. Cognitive capacity was measured as a confounding factor. Individual differences in ideational fluency and originality were derived from the divergent thinking task. As hypothesized, originality was predictive of logical reasoning beyond fluency and cognitive capacity.