Creativity

Creativity is the ability to generate or recognize ideas, alternatives, or possibilities that may be useful in solving problems, communicating with others, and entertaining ourselves and others. It is often characterized by the ability to perceive the world in new ways, to find hidden patterns, to make connections between seemingly unrelated phenomena, and to generate solutions.

Definition

Creativity is a phenomenon whereby something new and somehow valuable is formed. The created item may be intangible (such as an idea, a scientific theory, a musical composition, or a joke) or a physical object (such as an invention, a literary work, or a painting).

Theories of Creativity

There are many theories of creativity, including the Four C Model, the Systems Model, and the Componential Theory. These theories attempt to explain the processes that lead to creative thought and the factors that influence creativity.

Four C Model

The Four C Model of creativity was proposed by James C. Kaufman and Beghetto and includes four types of creativity: mini-c (transformative learning), little-c (everyday problem solving and creative expression), Pro-C (exhibited by people who are professionally or vocationally creative though not necessarily eminent) and Big-C (creativity considered great in the given field).

Systems Model

The Systems Model of creativity, proposed by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, suggests that creativity involves a system of three elements: the domain, the field, and the individual.

Componential Theory

The Componential Theory of creativity, proposed by Teresa Amabile, suggests that creativity is influenced by three components: domain-relevant skills, creativity-relevant processes, and intrinsic task motivation.

Creativity in Psychology

In psychology, creativity is often associated with personality types that are open to experience, nonconformist, unconventional, and have a high need for self-expression.

Creativity in Education

In education, creativity is often associated with problem-solving, critical thinking, and the development of new ideas or innovations.

Creativity in Business

In business, creativity is often associated with innovation, entrepreneurship, and the development of new products or services.

See Also

• Innovation
• Problem Solving
• Critical Thinking
• Entrepreneurship

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