SCH 275
The Creative Mind
Lecture 2
History of thinking about creativity
The concept of creativity has been intertwined with economic systems, particularly in late capitalism, where it
has been commodified and co-opted.
Creativity has historically been associated with novelty, constant reinvention, and flexibility, aligning with the
demands of the economic system.
A post-creativity world would involve disentangling creativity from certain values and asking critical questions
about what should be created and why.
The obsession with creativity can overshadow important considerations, such as the content and effects of
artistic and technological creations.
AI's capabilities challenge the notion of intrinsic human creativity, as it can exhibit creativity by generating new
and appropriate outputs.
A deliberate and thoughtful approach to creativity would allow for discussions about the purpose and societal
impact of creations.
Creativity is tool not a destination
Creativity Domain specific Subject Matter
Knowledge, Expert
research and Mastery of the
wisdom guided field
innovation The right question,
Self-Expression the right tools
Discipline
Innovation under constraint
Innovation is necessary at a rapid rate in high-tech and other firms, but
most new ideas are empirically shown to be bad or flawed.
Entrepreneurs need to balance two types of errors: not generating or
taking up good new ideas (type one error) and accepting bad ideas (type
two error).
One approach to evaluate new ideas is using a rubric with criteria or
dimensions, shifting the focus from personal matters to problem-
solving.
The Enlightenment Project promoted an authority system based on
evidence, acknowledging fallibility and the importance of empirical
claims in human institutions.
Creativity
Four Ps: Product
Person
Four Press
“P”
Process
intelligence
Creativity personality
motivation
Mental process underlying creative endeavors.
IQ • Creativity is distinct from intelligence.They are correlated to a certain threshold (average
intelligence)
Selective • focusing on certain aspects of a problem or idea while ignoring others. This process can help
Attention to filter out distractions and allow the mind to focus on what is most important.
Incubation • letting an idea sit for a while and allowing the unconscious mind to work on it. This process
can sometimes result in unexpected insights or solutions to a problem.
Mental process underlying creative endeavors.
• Creativity = rearrangement of already prevailing ideas into new
Associative combinations.
Theory
• Relation to Schizophrenia.
• creating mental images or other sensory experiences in order to
explore a problem or idea. This process can help to spark the
Visualization imagination and generate new insights
• All problem solving is creative.
Problem
Solving • Is creative thinking all about problem solving?!
Personality Traits
https://www.enkimd.com/big-five-personality-traits.html
Creativity
and Can we think of creativity itself as a personality trait?
personality The Big Five theory answers
Hearts of
creativity
Creativity and motivation
Motivation
Intrinsic Extrinsic
doing something doing things for other
for its own sake reasons, including to
avoid punishment or
Real enjoyment get a reward
Doesn’t diminish
Flourish creativity
creativity
2 - Process of
Creativity
Preparation
Implementation Incubation
Illumination
3-
Product:
Creative Product
Novelty: Creative products are often new and different from what has
come before. They break from the status quo and offer a fresh
perspective or approach.
Originality: Creative products are often original and unique. They are
not merely copies or imitations of existing products or ideas.
Complexity: Creative products often require complex thinking and
problem solving. They may involve combining multiple ideas or
elements in new and innovative ways.
What makes a product creative?
Artistic and Stylish: Creative products can be aesthetic or artistic in nature. They may
be visually pleasing, emotionally evocative, or otherwise appealing to the senses.
Value: Creative products offer value to their users or to society as a whole. They may
solve a problem, meet a need, or offer a new and improved way of doing something.
Impact: Creative products can have a significant impact on individuals, society, or
even the world at large. They may change the way people think, feel, or behave, or
they may have a more tangible impact, such as improving health outcomes or
increasing efficiency.
Risk-taking: Creative products often involve taking risks and trying new things.
They may challenge conventional wisdom or go against the status quo.
Ideas, objects, and more
One of the prototypical outcomes of
creativity is the creative (new & original)
idea.
Creative ideas creative objects are connected
through bi-directional links rather than linear
causality.
All products of creativity are cultural outcomes because
creators necessarily use cultural resources.
4- Press: The “Place” of Creativity
• Affordances
• Culture
The creative Environment - I
Psychological safety: People need to feel safe to express their ideas and take risks. A
nurturing environment should encourage openness, honesty, and respect for diversity of
thought.
Freedom and autonomy: Creativity flourishes when people have the freedom to explore
and experiment with ideas. A nurturing environment should give individuals the autonomy to
pursue their own projects and ideas.
Resources: Creativity often requires resources such as time, money, materials, and access to
information. A nurturing environment should provide these resources to support the
development of new and innovative ideas.
The Creative Environment - II
Collaboration and teamwork: Creativity can be enhanced through collaboration and
teamwork. A nurturing environment should encourage people to work together and share
their ideas and insights.
Diversity and inclusion: A diverse and inclusive environment can encourage new and
different perspectives, which can help to generate innovative ideas. A nurturing
environment should promote diversity and inclusion at all levels.
Recognition and support: People need to feel recognized and supported for their
creative efforts. A nurturing environment should provide recognition, support, and
encouragement for those who are working to develop new and innovative ideas.
Positive feedback: People need positive feedback and reinforcement to continue to be
creative. A nurturing environment should provide positive feedback for creativity, and
should reward and recognize those who are coming up with new and innovative ideas.
CREATIVE
INDIVIDUALS
Why Creativity
Mental Health
• Meaning-making processes
themselves are intrinsically
creative
• We are not only creators of
Innovation and
tools, objects, or economic Progress
Meaningful life
value but of meanings, stories,
and different versions of the
world Creativity
• Creativity function is to
represent reality in ways that
make it possible to change it
or imagine how it could be
changed.
Understanding
Shaping our
ourselves and
Future
others
Reasons to create Beauty
Power
2) Creative needs
1) Motivation
Intrinsic Discovery
Extrinsic
Communication
Individuality
Pleasure
