With the unprecedented number and types of challenges facing law enforcement, it might be said that the continuation and survival of the world’s most honored civilian police agencies – the American police departments – could come down to one word: Ideas.
Nothing is more frustrating to a police officer under the strain of escalating crime than fending off political attacks or any other type of attack while facing a deadline for solving issues. For those charged with bottom-line responsibility (or those aspiring to be so charged), producing new concepts and unique tactics can be Twinkie-consuming pressure. Knowing how to enhance and stimulate idea production is indispensable to success and can go a long way in reducing stress.
Problems arise, not from entertaining new concepts, but from failing to shed old ones.
ORIGINATING IDEAS
Creating ideas is tantamount to solving problems, but it is only the second phase. The first step is recognizing the problem. The final stage, which is not part of the creative process, is putting the solution into action. The greatest ideas are for naught if they cannot be comprehensively disseminated (accepted) by the recipient, thus ending in resistance: “What we have here is a failure to communicate”.1 Communication is always problematic due to inborn restraint and the inability to define and present a new proposal in an understandable presentation – possibly requiring additional idea production of to how win over the target listeners – from a jumper to your superior.
The creative process is the distinctive progression of change, development, and evolution unique to human life. The basic formula is simple to grasp, and most creative types already, unwittingly, use these practices. There has never been a reliable test to determine one’s creativity any more than an examination can measure intuition.
Idea: n A mental image, concept, or notion not previously envisioned. Creativity: n (1875) 1: the quality of being creative 2: the ability to create. Also: The ability to make or otherwise bring into existence something new, whether a new solution to a problem, a novel method or device, or a fresh artistic object or form.2 Additionally, ideas are defined as a mental image, concept, or notion not previously envisioned. This would include restructuring/reformatting/changing an old version of something into a new version of something.
Much has been written about people who are creative – those who produce ideas – but little about how they actually arrive at new concepts, theories, or a different way of viewing old notions. The term creativity is easily defined; however, a technique for achieving this highly acclaimed attribute is not readily found. Idea production, like any other manufacturing process, is subject to and dependent upon an identifiable pattern. It makes little difference whether the creator is writing a book, seeking a solution to an assembly line problem, or looking to save lives and prevent/solve crimes; the process of inspiration fabrication is the same.
THE LATENT PSYCHE CONCEPT 3
The formula for creativity production comprises five distinct and separate steps: the Latent Psyche Concept. Latent, because it deals with the ideas and thoughts hidden away in the back of the mind. Psyche, for the involvement of the entire mind, including the memory section, the intellect, and the subconscious. Concept, because this word best defines the goal of seeking an idea, an abstract notion, or a new outlook.
1) Identification
Identifying the problem (raising questions) and establishing goals. What do I wish to accomplish? Is it morale, ethics, overbearing supervisors, political pressure, crime in general, a specific violation of statutes, or…?. A visual list – something that can be periodically reviewed – helps keep the goals in focus and acts as a stimulant for the mind.
2) Information
The collection of raw materials. Whether it is new research or data found in your own storehouse of general wisdom and knowledge. Information is essential. Care must be taken not to clutter the mind with useless data. Keeping a calendar and a to-do list will free the mind for creativity.
Part of the research includes learning what the other side is planning and requires ideas to best prepare responses. Military leaders have often used this tactic in predicting an enemy’s means and motives. A great example was the out-loud musings attributed to General George Patton as he watched his adversary fall into a strategic trap: “Rommel, you magnificent bastard, I read your book” 4
3) Melding
Digesting, sorting, and collating – working over – Information in the mind. In other words, actively trying to come up with an idea. The solution might be readily available and at the forefront of conscious thoughts. Brainstorming or group think-tank sessions are forms of activating Melding.
4) Latent Psyche
This is the crux of the concept. Mountains of Information can be accumulated and melded with any number of problems, but without this stage, new ideas are hard to come by. During this interval, the subconscious portion of the mind forces Identification to consort, fraternize, and – Meld – with Information. Uncomplicated by conscious thoughts, and all its taboos and negatives, the Latent Psyche “mixing-it-up” stage is a playground for creativity.
Call It Magic, Pavlovian Action, Supernatural,
God’s Intervention Or Whatever;
The Latent Psyche Concept Works.
The time the subconscious takes to develop an idea or to view the problem from a different perspective is indeterminate. Some problems can be solved in seconds, while others might take overnight or even weeks. LEOs in a hostage situation, for instance, face the unique challenge of generating new ideas in a very limited time frame. Old practitioners of this process, such as writers and ad execs, used to say “sleep on it” to allow the subconscious to act. This could be good advice for them, but for those on a life-or-death deadline, there might not be enough sleep time…
Therefore, a new method was needed to permit the subconscious, the Latent Psyche – the hidden powers of the brain – to come up with a creation. The trick is to have a switch or an instantly available gimmick that turns the Latent Psyche mode on almost at will. Some possibilities immediately come to mind: focused, yet mindless, subconscious-stroking activities that might include playing simple video games, especially if they can be accessed without leaving your keyboard/phone. This switch, trick, or gimmick is not set in stone and can be different depending on the situation at hand. The card game solitaire is an excellent way to lull the mind into a relaxed state. There is no commitment to finish the game, save it, or move on to the next level, as other contests or engineered distractions might demand.
5) Creation
The birth of the idea. The “Eureka” moment. The discovery or solution to the problem can be a single word, the key to a character’s dilemma, or the resolution to a complex law enforcement issue. It can also be a fleeting instant, such as when the suddenly crystal-clear answer, amid a mind spinning with Melded Information, just as suddenly re-Melds. The light bulb that turned on to shine upon the creation can just as quickly be switched off.
Therefore, it is imperative that the idea or solution be written down or saved immediately. Even saying the revelation out loud can, in a sense, save it to memory. This latter tactic is most useful should the idea come in the middle of the night or while occupied with other consuming tasks, such as any everyday function. Sans preservation of the Creation, the idea-producing machinery, once set in motion, will continue to collate, thereby risking the loss of the “Eureka” innovation. The first new concept might not be the best, but in conjunction with later innovations, it tends to foster the winning idea. Sending yourself a text message or vocalizing it into your handheld device works well.
SUMMARY
Ideas beget ideas…Policing requires ideas. The key to generating ideas is allowing the subconscious mind to mull the problem over, without actively trying to force a new concept. Ideas result from association, as visual or mental stimuli are strung together to allow the Latent Psyche Concept to develop. These stimuli are the Information that melds with Identification, and though an idea might come quickly, it is still created in the dormant/hidden/undeveloped portion of the mind – Latent Psyche.
Ideas, no matter how great, are useless if they cannot be successfully transmitted to the intended benefactor.
Chuck Klein is a former LEO, retired P.I., author of INSTINCT COMBAT SHOOTING, Defensive Handgunning for Police, and many other books, articles, and columns. Contact info is on his website: https://chuckklein.com
Notes
1 The line is from the 1967 movie, Cool Hand Luke. Spoken by the warden, actor Strother Martin. https://www.quotes.net/movies/cool_hand_luke_2469
2Webster’s 9th New Collegiate Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, publisher, 1983.
3 Excerpted from the author’s treatise: THE LATENT PSYCHE CONCEPT, A Formula for Originating Ideas. General Science Journal 2015 https://www.gsjournal.net/uploads/essays/philosophy/essays_philosophy_science_journal_5971.pdf
4 The line is from the movie, “Patton,” and most likely Hollywood script writing, though it is indicative of leaders who became successful by studying the opposition’s means and motives. Actor George C. Scott (playing General Patton), while watching his adversary, Nazi Field Marshal Erwin Rommel fall into Patton’s trap, utters to himself those words. The real General Patton was known to study his enemy and use salty language.
