Six Thinking Hats

The white hat deals with information. Important questions to ask in this mode are about the information a group has, what is needed, and how it is going to be obtained. Information can include both measurable facts and figures and “soft” information, such as opinions and emotions. De Bono points out that one can report on an emotion and still be under the white hat mode of thinking.

This is not the stage at which one makes decisions. Rather, if two pieces of information disagree, both are put down in parallel. “Only if it becomes essential to choose between them” (25) should the choice be made. The white hat is usually used near the beginning of a thinking session, but it can also be used near the end as a kind of assessment.

De Bono offers the metaphor of a computer as an example of white hat thinking. It is not emotional; it shows only facts and figures, without an argument. White hat thinking is the opposite of what he regards as Western thinking. The latter prefers to give a conclusion first, then find the facts to support the conclusion. However, his “map-making” type of thinking involves making the map first and then choosing the route.