Final answer:
The assertion that divergent thinking is based on forming a specific belief from a general assumption is False. Divergent thinking is defined by creativity and the generation of multiple ideas or solutions, rather than moving from general to specific, which describes inductive or deductive reasoning.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement "Divergent thinking is where you form a specific belief based upon an earlier general assumption" is False. Divergent thinking is a thought process or method used to generate creative ideas by exploring many possible solutions. In divergent thinking, a person starts from a common point and then branches out into a variety of perspectives. Unlike the statement presented, divergent thinking is not about forming a specific belief from a general assumption; that description is more in line with inductive or deductive reasoning.
Divergent thinking is characterized by creativity and the ability to consider a multitude of ideas or solutions to a particular problem. It is thinking that moves outward from a problem in many directions and involves thinking without boundaries, as opposed to convergent thinking where the aim is to converge on a single, correct answer. An example of divergent thinking would be brainstorming different uses for a common object, such as a paperclip.
Conversely, inductive reasoning involves looking at specific instances and extrapolating a general rule, and deductive reasoning starts with a general statement, theory, or hypothesis and then works toward a specific conclusion based on evidence. Furthermore, the premise upon which an argument is based must be true for the conclusion to be valid, a concept known as "no false premises."
To better understand divergent thinking, it can be contrasted with convergent thinking which is useful for problems that have known solutions and require analytical thinking skills. Convergent thinking is marked by the application of logical steps and known principles to arrive at a single correct solution to a problem, which is quite different from the concept of divergent thinking.