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Creativity

Momina Amir 2122101023

Saman Rehman 2122101033
Govt. Graduate College for Women, Gulberg, Lahore
Department of Applied Psychology
Maj/Psy-309: Positive Psychology
Ma’am Sarah Usman
March 9, 2024
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Creativity
Creativity is the ability to produce or develop original work, theories, techniques, or

thoughts. A creative individual typically displays originality, imagination, and

expressiveness. Creative thinking refers to the mental processes leading to a new invention or

solution to a problem. Products of creative thinking include new machines, social ideas,

scientific theories, artistic works, and more.

Meaning

Creativity is derived from the word ‘cero’ meaning – ‘to create’ or ‘to make’. It is a

mental process involving the generation of new ideas or concepts, or new associations of the

creative mind between existing ideas or concepts. The ability to make or produce new things

using skills or imagination.

Definition

“Creativity is the power of the human mind to create new contents by transforming

relations and thereby generating new correlates.” (Perman)

“Creativity is the capacity to produce ideas that are both new and useful through

divergent thinking.” (Guilford 1959)

Example

A chef invents a dessert that combines unexpected ingredients, like chili and

chocolate, creating a unique and tantalizing flavor experience.

Types / Styles

For our purposes, we turn to the four types of creativity as defined by

neuropsychologist Arne Dietrich. Mr. Dietrich laid out creativity on a four-square matrix

where along the x-axis is Cognitive and Emotional, and on the y-axis is Deliberate and

Spontaneous. Let's discuss these four types.

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Deliberate and Cognitive Creativity

Creativity that is deliberate and cognitive comes from hard work in a particular area.

Thomas Edison, the inventor of the electric light bulb (improved from the invention of Joseph

Swan) and the telegraph, is a great example of a deliberate and cognitive creator. His work

involved doing experiments repeatedly, making tweaks as he did, until something finally

worked. This process followed him during all his brilliant career as his work contributed

exponentially to the modern world.

The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is home to this type of creativity. The PFC is one of the three

regions of the frontal cortex, which is the space right behind your forehead, and is the home

of the language, the memory, relaxion and superior executive brain functions. In a more

concrete way, it allows you to do two things:

• Focus your attention

• Make connections amongst stored information in your brain

The key aspect of deliberate, cognitive creativity is having an already formed body of

knowledge to combine existing information in new and innovative ways. Gaining this

high degree of knowledge obviously takes time. So, for these types of creative thinkers, it's

essential to provide lots of opportunities for research and learning. Then, they must be

provided with enough time to develop a creative solution.

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Deliberate and Emotional Creativity

For some, creativity comes from sitting quietly and reflecting on their situation.

Dietrich calls this type of creativity deliberate and emotional. These types of creatives likely

have "a-ha" moments where they seem to pull a solution out of thin air. But most don't

see that the idea isn't actually out of nowhere, but from time spent pondering and asking

questions, as opposed to research and time spent studying. This type of creativity comes from

the cingulate cortex–an area of the brain that connects our emotions to the PFC.

To help people whose creativity falls on this scale, it's important to give them time to

think. For example, if a bad event just happened to you or a relative, you may reflect on

yourself trying to understand the decisions and incidents that led to this situation. You’ll

naturally use this type of creativity to reflect on the event so you can face it and ultimately, be

able to move on and learn from the situation.

You can offer them questions and insights, but you shouldn't expect them to have a

solution immediately. Instead, present things to them, then allow them to come back later to

share their thoughts.

Spontaneous and Cognitive Creativity

Spontaneous and cognitive creativity utilizes the brain's basal ganglia – this is a part

of the brain where dopamine is stored, and it operates outside conscious awareness. It's also a

part of the brain that is primarily involved in processing movement-related information.

Someone who falls into this category is said to require time to do something else, allowing

their subconscious to keep working on the problem. When explaining this type of creative

thinking, an example is how Isaac Newton thought of gravity while watching a falling apple.

It does require an existing body of knowledge, but the idea is that while someone is doing

another unrelated activity, their brain continues to work on a solution to their problem.

Solutions may come while cleaning dishes, driving, taking a shower, or walking outside.
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For spontaneous and cognitive people, it's essential to develop stages of creativity

over time. For example, on day one, they may want to set up the problem but then come back

sometime later to solve it.

Spontaneous and Emotional Creativity

Spontaneous and emotional creativity takes place in the “amygdala” part of the human

brain. Amygdala is responsible for all emotional type of thinking in the human brain.

Spontaneous ideas and creativity happen when conscious and Prefrontal brain is resting. For

example, this type of creativity is mostly found in a great artist such as musicians, painters,

and writers etc. This type of creativity is also related to “epiphanies”.

Epiphany is a sudden realization of something. Spontaneous and emotional creativity

is responsible for a scientific breakthrough, religious and also philosophical discoveries. This

allows the enlightened person to look at a problem or situation with a different and deeper

viewpoint.

Those moments are defined as rare moments when great discoveries take place. There

is no need to have specific knowledge for “spontaneous and emotional” creativity to happen

but there should be a skill such as writing, musical or artistic. This type of creativity can’t be

obtained by working on it.

Stages of the Creative Process:

The creative process takes place through five stages.

Stage 1: Preparation

The creative process begins with preparation: gathering information and materials,

identifying sources of inspiration, and acquiring knowledge about the project or problem at

hand. This is often an internal process (thinking deeply to generate and engage with ideas), as

well as an external one (going out into the world to gather the necessary data, resources,

materials, and expertise).

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Stage 2: Incubation

Next, the ideas and information gathered in stage 1 marinate in the mind. As ideas

slowly simmer, the work deepens and new connections are formed. During this period of

germination, the artist takes their focus off the problem and allows the mind to rest. While the

conscious mind wanders, the unconscious engages in what Einstein called ‘combinatory

play’: taking diverse ideas and influences and finding new ways to bring them together.

Stage 3: Illumination

Following the period of incubation the creative ideas occur suddenly. Consequently,

the obscure thing becomes clear. This sudden flash of solution is known as illumination and

is similar to ‘aha (eureka)’ experience. For example, Archimedes found solution to the crown

problem.

Stage 5: Verification/ Implementation

Though the solution is found in illumination stage, it is necessary to verify whether

that solution is correct or not. Hence in this last stage evaluation of the solution is done. If the

solution is not satisfactory the thinker will go back to creative process from the beginning.

If it is satisfactory, the same will be accepted and if necessary, minor modification may also

be made in solution.

Example of the Creative process

An example of the creative process for an author would like the following:

1. Preparation: the author begins to collect research, resources, and general ideas for

their story.

2. Incubation: the author goes about their daily life, doing some dedicated work for

brainstorming their story as well as letting their subconscious play with plot possibilities.

3. Illumination: the author has a moment of inspiration which gives them clarity for

the direction that they want to take their story.

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5. Implementation: the author begins their drafting process and brings it to

completion.

Theories

1. Irving A. Taylor’s Level Theory of Creativity

Irving A. Taylor (a psychologist who studied creativity and creative processes)

arranged creativity levels into a hierarchy that recognizes five levels:

Expressive Creativity: These are unfettered ideas, generally primitive, that emerge

without the benefit of any guidelines, physical laws, or other restrictions. You might think of

expressive creativity as the child described earlier using a box of multi-colored crayons to

draw something. The first level incorporates the primitive and intuitive expression often

found in children and in adults who have not been trained in the arts. There is an innocent

quality to primitive art, but also directness and sensitivity. The naive artist creates for the joy

of it. The paintings of Grandma Moses would be a prime example of this category or many

examples of folk art.

Technical Creativity: In this stage, we use rules and physical laws to constrain our

thinking, with little expressive spontaneity. Think of this stage as "practicing." Things that

emerge may be new to you, but may already be known to the world. The second level of

creativity is the academic and technical level. At this level the artist learns skills and

techniques, developing a proficiency that allows creative expression in a myriad of ways. The

academic artist adds power to expression through the mastery of craft.

Inventive Creativity: In this stage, we develop the ability to creatively combine

existing technical concepts using prior design solutions to create new designs. Examples

might be to use an old item in a new way. Many artists experiment with their craft, exploring

different ways of using familiar tools and mediums. This heralds the third level of creativity,

invention. Breaking rules is the order of the day, challenging the boundaries of discipline or
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academic tradition, and becoming increasingly adventurous and experimental. Inventive

creators use academic tradition and skills as a stepping-stone into new frontiers.

Innovative Creativity: Innovative creativity involves departing from existing

thinking patterns and making the leap to "out of the box" thinking. Results in something that

seemingly has not been done before. At the level of innovation the artist becomes more

original. Materials and methods that are out of the ordinary are introduced. Now the artist

breaks the boundaries. The academic foundation remains as a substructure of unconscious

thought guiding these creative efforts.

Emergent Creativity: Emergent creativity is the highest creative level. It involves

rejecting current physical laws, principals, and constraints, and forming completely new

theories about how the world works. This often results in a ground- breaking idea. Few

people achieve this level. The fifth level of creativity is characterized as genius. There are

individuals whose ideas and accomplishments in art and science defy explanation. Genius is

arguably the one level that is unexplained and perhaps unattainable through persistence or

applied work ethic. Rather it is something that an individual is born with. That said it can

certainly be nurtured and supported, or suppressed by external control.

2. Investment and confluence theory of creativity

There are different theories to understand or explain creativity. Professor

Sternberg proposed two methods of creativity of which The Investment Theory of

Creativity was initially proposed in 1991. He built it upon the work of Paul Torrance.

Sternberg drew a parallel between market investment and being creative. The theory claims

that creativity can be developed — it is not necessarily linked to genetics. He believes that

creative people can look for ideas that are less costly and then sell it when it is selling at a

high price, thus making a profit and moving onto the next investment. They are capable of

taking risk, they cultivate new ideas and protect it when others may not be willing to buy it.
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They are not led by the public but instead make a decision to invest in unique ideas. This may

also bring us to the conclusion that the limitations of such creative people are not a result of

expectations imposed by the society but the thought process of the person herself!

Creativity is not inborn, it is an acquired talent characterized by the willingness to

carve our own way. The traits that constitute this can be trained methodically. The notable

traits that a creative talent needs are an approach to:

• Rethink the problem before them

• Be willing to take risk

• Persist in the face of rejection and resistance due to non-conformity

• Self-examine if they are able to think objectively

Creativity can be characterized by

• The abilities of a person, the way they look at the world

• Their thought processes

• Their innate desire to accomplish something

• The surrounding and the support system in the society

• Grasp of existing knowledge in the field they are finding solutions in

• Personality attributes

We see that the society is also responsible or contributing in the process of making a new

creative person. If the environment does not yield to any deviant proposals or continuously

badgers the person to become conforming then the creative growth can slow down or

completely stop.

One may inquire how to become creative? how do we define its origin in practical terms?

In the Investment theory of creativity, creativity can be obtained by investing time and other

necessary resources into a creative process! The resources that we have to develop or invest

in are the six characteristics that were listed earlier and described in detail below.
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Intellectual skills: What matters is not only the skill to conceive new ideas, to inspect

problems in novel ways, but also the skill to present it and persuade others to adopt it.

Knowledge: There is delicate balance here, we should be aware of the work done so far

to solve a problem, at the same time we must not occupy ourselves with them so much so that

we lose the ability to think out-of-the-box, that we become preoccupied or biased by the

existing proposed solutions.

Thinking Skills: This is simple, just choose to think about things! Take time and think,

and choose to think objectively. Shed your prejudice, identify and eliminating biases in your

own thinking.

Personality: This could be summarized as conviction in one’s thought. A willingness to

find middle grounds, reconcile conflicts, present the ideas most convincingly to most adverse

audience, not getting dazed by rejection but making incremental efforts to find a

breakthrough.

Motivation: A person should be self-motivated to be truly creative in finding a solution.

The environment can be motivating but what truly differentiates creative investment is to fall

in love with the challenge and work on it with genuine interest.

Environment: The environment should have a reward system to eventually spot and

encourage these creative people.

Characteristics of Creative People

Here are some key characteristics commonly associated with creative people:

Imagination

Creative individuals have vivid imaginations and are capable of envisioning

possibilities beyond the constraints of current reality. They generate new ideas by mentally

exploring alternative scenarios, concepts, or perspectives.

Curiosity
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Creative individuals exhibit a strong sense of curiosity and a desire to explore new

ideas, experiences, and domains. They ask questions, seek out novel information, and engage

in continuous learning to fuel their creative pursuits.

Openness to Experience

Creative individuals are open-minded and receptive to new ideas, perspectives, and

influences. They embrace diversity, complexity, and ambiguity, allowing them to draw

inspiration from a wide range of sources and experiences.

Flexibility

Creative individuals demonstrate cognitive flexibility, enabling them to adapt their

thinking, perspectives, and approaches as they encounter new information or challenges.

They are open to alternative viewpoints and comfortable with uncertainty and ambiguity.

Originality

Creative individuals produce work that is original, unique, and distinct from existing

concepts or solutions. They bring fresh perspectives, insights, and approaches to their

creative endeavors, challenging conventions and pushing boundaries.

Passion

Creative individuals are deeply passionate about their creative pursuits and are

intrinsically motivated to pursue them. They derive joy, satisfaction, and fulfillment from the

process of creativity itself, rather than external rewards or recognition.

Risk-taking

Creative individuals are willing to take risks and venture into unknown territories in

pursuit of their creative visions. They embrace uncertainty, experimentation, and failure as

integral parts of the creative process, viewing setbacks as opportunities for growth and

learning.

Adaptability
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Creative individuals are adaptable and responsive to change. They embrace

uncertainty and ambiguity, thriving in dynamic environments where they can pivot, iterate,

and evolve their ideas and approaches as needed.

Develop Creativity

Exercising the right side of your brain will inevitably develop your imagination and

assist in developing creativity and creative thinking skills. Listed below are some ideas for

exercising your creative ability, but a word of caution, they will only benefit you if you truly

want to improve your creativity:

Believe in your own capability

Our mind is an amazing machine and our belief system impacts on our capabilities ‘to

do’ and learn. Telling ourselves that we are creative and have the capability to generate ideas,

will ensure that we do not put any psychological barriers in the way of generating great ideas.

The right side of our brain provides the capability to generate ideas, if we merely use and

exercise it.

Identify your own ideas first

When you need to come up with ideas or solutions, try to avoid going to the creative

people you may have tended to rely on in the past. Take time to come up with ideas and

solutions yourself first. In this way, you will naturally develop your imagination.

Interact with creative people

Creative people tend to have the power to see what might be and interacting with

them will spark new ideas and ways of looking at things. Look for people who are fun to talk

to and have a keen sense of interest in life. An individual who will force you to exercise your

imagination, as you interact with them. Talking with a wide range of people from different

disciplines, backgrounds, cultures and experiences will help you to see things from different

perspectives and develop your imagination.

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Selectively read

Reading selectively means choosing material that will exercise your imagination such

as a good mystery or a short story. One way to exercise your imagination with short stories is

to read the first half and make up your own ending. Cookbooks, repair manuals and self help

guides can also be used for creative exercise if you take the ideas presented and improve

them by adding, modifying or combining them with ideas of your own.

Commence creative writing

You don’t have to be a published author to write. Writing short pieces on a subject

that interests or concerns you is a great way to develop your creative thinking ability. You

may then feel comfortable to let your imagination wander to write a short story.

Ways to improve creativity skills:

There are several activities and exercises you can try that can help improve your

creativity. These include:

Try the circle challenge

Draw twenty circles then set a stopwatch for 30 seconds. Make each circle into a

unique picture before the timer ends. This exercise forces you to think about the same thing

in different ways. Repeat it periodically to see how your thoughts change over time.

Use a sketchpad

As well as exercising creativity, drawing or writing down ideas can help you process

information. If you are listening to a presentation, you could sketch something relevant to

what you are hearing. This can help you remember the things being said.

Read regularly

Reading is just one way to mentally exercise. Exploring fiction novels.

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For example: can introduce you to interesting creative concepts such as complex

worlds, storylines, puzzles and characters. Another easy way to practice mentally challenging

games and puzzles is by using an app on your phone or another mobile device.

Write

Try recording your thoughts in a journal at the end of each day. Writing encourages

you to think critically about your daily experiences and ideas. Finding ways to apply critical

and analytical thinking is a great way to exercise your mental abilities.

Exercise

Taking care of your physical and mental health can help put you in an optimal

position to practice and apply creative thinking. Adding regular exercise, if even for 20-30

minutes two to three times per week, is one way to be your best self at work, school, social

settings etc.

Take a new route

Challenge yourself to take an alternative path to a place you regularly go to

experience new surroundings. Going a different way will expose you to unfamiliar sights,

sounds, and experiences, which all aid in improving your overall creativity.

Try something new

Maybe it's a new food, outfit or a movie, but trying something new stimulates your

brain to make connections and see things a different way. When you expose yourself to new

things, you naturally improve your ability to think creatively by remaining open-minded and

observant.

Ask for feedback about your ideas

Creativity is not inclusive to your thoughts and ideas but also integrates people's

concepts and collaboration with others. One way to improve your creative thinking is to ask
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for feedback or advice about your ideas. When receiving the input, try to put yourself in your

colleague's place to understand their point of view.

Benefits of creativity skills:

Some benefits of creativity are:

Problem-solving

Creativity helps you come up with cool and new ways to solve tricky problems.

Example: when you can't figure out how to finish your homework, but you find a fun

and different approach that works.

Adaptability

Being creative means you can easily adjust to changes. It's like being able to switch

gears when things don't go as planned.

Example: just like when you change your game plan if the weather suddenly turns

rainy during your outdoor picnic.

Innovation

Creativity lets you invent new stuff or think up fresh ideas.

Example: think about how someone came up with the first-ever smartphone or a

brand new game that nobody has played before.

Emotional expression

Being creative helps you express your feelings in cool ways.

Example: through drawing, writing stories, or making music. It's like when you paint

a picture that shows how happy or sad you feel inside.

Stress reduction:

Doing creative things can help you relax and feel better when you're stressed.

Example: coloring or doodling can calm your mind after a busy day.

Personal growth
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Being creative lets you learn new stuff about yourself and grow as a person.

Example: trying out different hobbies or activities to see what you enjoy and what

makes you feel proud of yourself

So, being creative isn't just about being artistic. It's about thinking outside the box,

trying new things, and making life more interesting and enjoyable!

Relationship of Creativity with Physical Health

Physical Exercise

Creative activities like dancing, gardening, or playing sports require physical

movement, which helps in burning calories and improving cardiovascular health. For

example, dancing involves various movements such as twisting, jumping, and stretching,

which can enhance flexibility and strengthen muscles.

Improvement in Motor Skills

Creative activities that require movement can help in the development and refinement

of motor skills.

For example: playing sports involves coordination, agility, and balance, which are

essential for performing various physical tasks effectively.

Social Interaction

Many creative activities involving movement are often done in groups, providing

opportunities for social interaction and connection. Dancing, for instance, can be enjoyed in

social settings such as dance classes or community events, fostering a sense of community

and belonging.

Relationship of Creativity with Mental Health:

The relationship between creativity and mental health is multifaceted and often

mutually beneficial. Here's how creativity can positively impact mental health:

Expression of Emotions
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Creativity provides an outlet for expressing complex emotions, which can promote

emotional well-being.

Example: engaging in creative activities like painting, writing, or music allows

individuals to process and communicate their feelings in a healthy way.

Stress Reduction

Creative endeavors can act as a form of stress relief by diverting attention away from

negative thoughts and emotions.

Example: activities such as drawing, crafting, or playing an instrument can promote

relaxation and mindfulness, reducing feelings of stress and anxiety.

Enhanced Problem-Solving Skills

Engaging in creative problem-solving exercises can stimulate cognitive function and

improve mental agility. Creative thinking encourages individuals to explore multiple

perspectives and consider unconventional solutions, which can be applied to various

challenges in life.

Example: participating in a brainstorming session to find innovative solutions to a

work-related problem or using creative thinking to overcome obstacles in daily life.

Mindfulness and Presence

Many creative activities require individuals to be fully present in the moment,

promoting mindfulness and mental clarity.

Example immersing oneself in a painting, focusing on the rhythm of music, or being

mindful of movement in dance, creative pursuits can cultivate a sense of mindfulness and

awareness.

Social Connection

Participating in creative endeavors often involves collaboration and social interaction,

which can alleviate feelings of loneliness and isolation.

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Example: joining creative groups, attending workshops, or collaborating on projects

can foster meaningful connections with others, promoting social support and mental well-

being.

References

1. Csikszentmihali, M. (1966). Creativity: Flow and the psychology of discovery and

invention. HarperCollins.

2. Fredrickson, B.L. (2001). The role of positive emotionsin positive psychology: The

broaden-and-build theory of positive emotion. American Psychologist, 56(3), 218.

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3. Kaufman, J.C., & Baghetto, R.A. (2009). Beyond Big and Little: The Four C Model of

Creativity: review of general psychology, 13(1), 1-12.

4. Seligmen, M. E. P., & Csikzentmihalyi, M. (2000). Positive Psychology: An introduction

American Psychologist, 55(1), 5.

5. Snyder, C. R., & Lopez, S. J. (2007). Positive Psychology: The scientific and practical

explorations of human strengths. Sage Publications.

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