横向思维是指接收和利用其他事物的功能,特征和性质的启发而产生新思想的思维方 式.简单地说,纵向思维是利用逻辑推理直上直下地思考,而横向思维是当纵向思维思考受 阻时大脑急转弯,在横向思索中去发现富有创新性的目标或答案. 最早提出横向思维概念的是英国学者爱德华·德博诺,他在其专著《新型的思维》中首 先用一个虚构的智力故事来阐述横向思维与纵向思维的区别,以及横向思维在产生新设想方 面的作用. 英国剑桥大学教授爱德华·德博诺是横向思维的积极倡导者。他认为，生活中有时碰到的问题，当用常规办法无法解决时，人们应该尝试换个角度，使用迂回或反向的思考方式来寻求问题的解决之道。

The de Bono Hats system (also known as "Six Hats" or "Thinking hats") is a thinking tool for group discussion and individual thinking. Combined with the idea of parallel thinking which is associated with it, it provides a means for groups to think together more effectively, and a means to plan thinking processes in a detailed and cohesive way. The method is attributed to Dr. Edward de Bono and is the subject of his book, Six Thinking Hats.