Have you watched The Simpsons cartoon?
In Season 8 of The Simpsons, the Itchy and Scratchy Show decides they need a new character. There’s a meeting of the animators. The boss asks them to come up with a name for the new dog character.
“The rest of you writers start thinking up a name for this funky dog; I dunno, something along the line of say… Poochie, only more proactive,” he says before slamming the door.
“So, Poochie OK with everybody?” is the result of the meeting.
Great episode and this scene shows us how influence from authority can limit our creative thinking.
If a boss or somebody of higher authority than you presents a solution to a problem, your subconscious will shut down. You’ll see that authoritative idea as the winner. You won’t reach a state of flow.
I call this the Poochie Effect. (more…)
