A driving method which is used for a display device and which applies different voltages to display elements during the first through third periods in a selection period. During the first period, a first voltage having not less than a predetermined value is applied to each display element through a non-linear element of two-terminal type. During the second period, a second voltage having a level that does not cancel the first voltage is applied upon on-time, while a second voltage having a level that cancels the first voltage is applied upon off-time. During the third period, a third voltage that has an opposite polarity to the first voltage upon on-time and that has the same polarity as the first voltage upon off-time is applied. Here, the third voltage has a non-selection level upon on-time as well as off-time. Thus, an effective voltage, which is applied to the display element selected during the selection period, becomes virtually the same irrespective of display states. Thus, the influence of data during the non-selection period hardly appear on the display during the selection period. This makes it possible to reduce generation of crosstalk to a great degree. Since the voltage to be applied to the display element is higher than a predetermined voltage, it is possible to reduce the dependance of the characteristic shift of the non-linear element on display states, and consequently to suppress afterimages and seizures.