The Second Principle

The work of Leslie Owen Wilson, Ed. D.

Characteristics of highly creative people

Identifying the Characteristics of the Highly Creative People:
Some men see things as they are and say “why?” I dream of things that never were
and say “why not.”                                                                                               
George Bernard Shaw

Different authors writing about creative individuals sometimes seem to list different
characteristics for the creatively gifted. The variances in perspectives are not so
much about the definitive listings of traits as they are about the mixed order of the
lists or the way authors tend to describe each characteristic. For instance, one
author may describe highly creative people as “rebellious,” while another indicates
they tend to be “independent thinkers,”  and still another may label them as having
“unusual or unique viewpoints.” In essence, all of these descriptors simply indicate
that highly creative persons tend to think for themselves, they are not easily
influenced or swayed by others, and they can easily think outside the “proverbial
box.”

As you read the following lists of characteristics of highly creative people and their
most common traits, please remember that what distinguishes the “highly creative”
from the rest of us is the intensity of their gifts and the fact that creative traits in
these individuals are often heavily clustered. Highly creative people will have
a number of characteristics listed below, not just one or two, and the traits they
exhibit are usually easily recognizable. What also differentiates the highly
creative from those folks who are simply creative is the attribute of persistence.  A
lot of us have unusual or novel ideas, but the highly creative act on and follow
through with theirs.

A reflective exercise:

Look at the following lists of characteristics of highly creative people and think about
yourself, or other people you know, as well as ones who you perceive as being very
creative. As you read each description, see if you can calculate a rating for each
from the array of choices – most of the time; sometimes; or infrequently. This
exercise may help you decide if you, or those you know, fall into a group that is
considered highly creative. Obviously, the more times you rate “most of the time,”
the more likelihood that person can be classified as highly creative. If you are doing
this as a self-reflective analysis, be honest and not overly humble or boastful. Try to
look at yourself objectively and from a comparative perspective.

Leslie’s note: It is also important to note that many of the characteristics of highly
creative people, in the extreme or overly amplified may also have the potential
for becoming negative personality traits! When this happens a highly creative
person can become difficult to live or work with.  For example, in the
extreme persistence can easily be morphed into stubbornness,  while independent
thinking in the extreme may appear as belligerence.

There are also variable levels of personal creativity. When you have finished here
you might be interested in viewing Levels of Creativity, and the David
Perkins’ Snowflake Model of Creativity.
  Highly creative individuals
may:
1. Display a great deal of curiosity about many things; are constantly asking
questions about anything and everything; may have broad interests in many
unrelated areas. May devise collections based on unusual things and interests.

2. Generate a large number of ideas or solutions to problems and questions; often

offer unusual (“way out”), unique, clever responses.

3. Are often uninhibited in expressions of opinion; are sometimes radical and

spirited in disagreement; are unusually tenacious or persistent — fixating on an idea
or project.

4. Are willing to take risks, are often people who are described as a “high risk taker,
or adventurous, or speculative.”

5. Exhibit a good deal of intellectual playfulness; may frequently be caught

fantasizing, daydreaming or imagining. Often wonder out loud and might be heard
saying, “I wonder what would happen if. . .”; or “What if we change . . ..” Can
manipulate ideas by easily changing, elaborating, adapting, improving, or modifying
the original idea or the ideas of others.” Are often
concerned with improving the conceptual frameworks of institutions, objects, and
systems.

6. Have keen senses of humor and see comicality in situations that may not appear
to be humorous to others. Sometimes what they find funny, comic, or amusing may
appear bizarre, inappropriate, or irreverent to others.
 7. Are unusually aware of his or her impulses and are often more open to the
irrational within him or herself. May freely display opposite gender characteristics
— may be androgynous (freer expression of feminine interests in boys, or as males
they are considered ultra sensitive, or greater than usual amount of independence,
assertiveness, or aggressiveness for females).

8. Exhibit heightened emotional sensitivity. May be very sensitive to beauty, and

visibly moved by aesthetic experiences.

9. Are frequently perceived as nonconforming; can often accept the disorder of

chaotic environments or situations; are frequently not interested in details, are
described as individualistic; or do not fear being classified as “different.”

10. Criticize constructively, and are unwilling to accept authoritarian

pronouncements without overly critical self-examination. Adopted and adapted
from the scale for Rating Behavioral Characteristics of Superior Students by Renzulli
and Hartman

General Characteristics of Creative Individuals: 

1. Genuinely values intellectual and cognitive matters.
2. Values own independence and autonomy.
3. Is verbally fluent; can express ideas well.
4. Enjoys aesthetic impressions; is aesthetically reactive.
5. Is productive; gets things done.
6. Is concerned with philosophical problems, for example, religion, values, the
meaning of life.
7. Has high aspiration level for self.
8. Has wide range of interests.
9. Thinks and associates ideas in unusual ways; has unconventional thought
processes; can make unusual connections to unrelated ideas or things.
10. Is an interesting, arresting person.
11. Appears straightforward, forthright and candid in dealings with others.
12. Behaves in an ethically consistent manner; has consistent personal standards.
  Other Lists  – Traits and
States of the Highly Creative:
Possible negative traits of highly creati
Characteristics of the creatively gifted
conforming behaviors

1. Independent, anti-authoritarian
2. Divergent thinker
3. Generally considered intelligent
4. Open to new ideas
5. Little tolerance for boredom
6. Willing to undertake stimulating challenges, curious and
inquisitive
1. Stubborn
7. Self-actualizer
2. Challenges Authority
8. Aesthetically-inclined
3. Unconventional
9. Above average use of brain functions located in the right
4. Uncooperative
hemisphere
5. Assertive
10. Strong imagery ability
6. Cynical
11. Abilities of synthesis; tasting color, seeing sound, hearing
7. Sloppy or Careless
smells
8. Questions or Challenges Rules
12. Generally unaffected by peer pressure
9. Temperamental
13. Versatile and adaptable
10. Withdrawn
14. Score high on Torrance Tests of Creative Ability in the
following areas:
a. fluency--produce numerous ideas
b. flexibility--produce variety of ideas and approaches
c. originality--novel ideas
d. elaboration--fill in details
e. complexity – think in difficult, intricate, multifaceted ways