Understanding Creativity

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ISBN: 9780910707589 | 0910707588
Cover: Hardcover
Copyright: 11/1/2003

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Dr. Piirto's comprehensive, yet readable, book about creativity includes creativity theories, the creative process, motivation, and ways to enhance creativity. Her descriptions of well-known people in various creative fields -- art, music, dance, theater, writing, science, math, business, technology -- are fascinating, particularly the predictive behaviors apparent in childhood. The Piirto Pyramid describes her own theory of creativity development; and she lists Seven I's -- Inspiration, Imagery, Imagination, Intuition, Insight, Incubation, and Improvisation -- important in the creative process. Book jacket.

Acknowledgments

xvii

Preface

xix

Part I. Definitions and Processes of Creativity

(80)

Chapter 1. Making Sense of Creativity

(36)

The Term "Creativity"

(2)

Psychological, Psychoanalytic, Philosophic, and Religious Overtones

(1)

Creativity and Psychology

(17)

Psychometric Approaches

(4)

Torrance's Tests

(1)

The Federal Definitions

(1)

The Tangling of Giftedness and Creativity

(2)

Developmental Psychology

(4)

Gruber's "Darwin"

(1)

Feldman's"Gambit"

(1)

Expertise

(1)

Erikson's "Stages"

(1)

Evolutionary Creativity

(1)

Social Psychology

(2)

Csikszentmihalyi's "Big C" and "little c"

(1)

Simonton's Work

(1)

Cognitive Psychology

(4)

Creative Cognition

(1)

Gardner's "Frames"

(2)

Sternberg's Triarchies and Hierarchies, Investments, Propulsions, and Wisdom

(1)

Educational Psychology

(1)

Humanistic Psychology

(2)

Dabrowski: Overexcitabilities and Developmental Levels

(2)

Positive Psychology

(1)

Psychoanalysis, Psychiatry, and Creativity

(2)

Creativity and Business and Technology

(1)

Philosophy and Creativity: Why Are We So Interested in Creativity, Anyway?

(5)

Reasons of Quantity

(1)

Quality as Creativity

(1)

Creativity and Nationalism

(1)

Creativity and Equity

(1)

Creativity as Human Freedom

(1)

Can a Person Be Creative Without a Product?

(3)

Precocity as Predictive

(1)

Creativity of the Moment and for the Ages

(1)

Creativity Can Take Place Without Mastery

(1)

The Existence and Development of Talent

(1)

Creativity Is Natural

(1)

Summary

(3)

Chapter 2. The Creative Process

(40)

Current Psychological Theories of the Creative Process

(5)

Cognitive Psychology: Selection

(1)

Industrial Psychology: The CPS Model

(1)

Psychoanalytic Theory: Janusian and Homospatial

(1)

Social Psychological Theories: The Power of Suggestion and Motivation

(1)

The Work of Brewster Ghiselin

(2)

Flow

(1)

Core Attitudes in the Creative Process

(3)

Core Attitude of Naiveté

(1)

Core Attitude of Self-Discipline

(1)

Core Attitude of Risk-Taking

(1)

Core Attitude of Group Trust

(1)

The Seven I's

(18)

Inspiration

(11)

The Visitation of the Muse

(4)

The Inspiration of Nature

(1)

Inspiration through Substances

(2)

Inspiration by Others' Creativity, Especially by Works of Art and Music

(1)

Inspiration from Dreams

(2)

The Inspiration of Novel Surroundings: Travel

(1)

Extrinsic Inspiration

(1)

Imagery

(1)

Imagination

(2)

Intuition

(1)

Insight

(1)

Incubation

(1)

Improvisation and an Attitude of Playfulness

(2)

Other Aspects of the Creative Process

(8)

The Need for Solitude

(2)

Creativity Rituals

(1)

Meditation

(2)

Creativity as the Process of a Life

(4)

Creativity and Madness

(3)

Suicide Among Creators

(2)

Conclusion

(1)

Summary

(3)

Part II. Sow To Enhance Creativity

(52)

Chapter 3. Encouraging Creativity. Motivation and Schooling

(18)

What Creative Writers Said about their Schooling

(7)

Motivating Creative Behavior

(6)

Strong Emotion as a Motivator

(2)

Close Your Eyes

(2)

Escaping and Getting the Giggles

(1)

Creativity as Spontaneous Adventures

(1)

Creativity Is Not Permitted

(1)

Motivation for Creativity

(1)

Rewards

(2)

Summary

100

(1)

Chapter 4. How Parents and Teachers Can Enhance Creativity in Children

101

(32)

1. Provide a Private Place for Creative Work to Be Done

101

(2)

2. Provide Materials: Musical Instruments, Sketchbooks, Fabric, Paper, Clay

103

(2)

3. Encourage and Display the Child's Creative Work, but Avoid Overly Evaluating It

105

(2)

4. Do Your Own Creative Work, and Let the Child See You Doing It

107

(3)

5. Set a Creative Tone

110

(2)

6. Value the Creative Work of Others

112

(1)

7. Incorporate Creativity Values into Your Family Mythology

113

(3)

8. Avoid Reinforcing Sex-Role Stereotypes

116

(2)

9. Provide Private Lessons and Special Classes

118

(3)

10. Use Hardship to Teach the Child Expression through Metaphor

121

(3)

11. Discipline and Practice Are Important

124

(2)

12. Allow the Child to be "Odd"; Avoid Emphasizing Socialization at the Expense of Creative Expression

126

(3)

13. Use Humor, and Get Creativity Training

129

(1)

Summary

130

(3)

Part III. Personality and Intellectual Characteristics of Creative People In Various Domains

133

(236)

Chapter 5. The Piirto Pyramid of Talent Development Model

135

(12)

The Pyramid (Piiramid) of Talent Development

138

(6)

1. The Genetic Aspect

138

(1)

2. The Emotional Aspect: Personality Attributes

138

(2)

3. The Cognitive Aspect

140

(1)

4. Talent in Domains

141

(1)

5. Environmental "Suns"

142

(2)

Talent Multipotentiality: Feeling the Call, or the "Thorn"

144

(1)

Crystallizing Experiences and Catalysts

144

(1)

Support for the Pyramid Theory

145

(1)

Summary

146

(1)

Chapter 6. Visual Artists and Architects

147

(42)

The Genetic Aspect for Visual Artists

148

(1)

The Emotional Aspect: Personalities of Visual Artists

149

(7)

Androgyny

150

(1)

Pacifism and Androgyny

151

(1)

Tolerance for Ambiguity and Preference for Complexity

151

(1)

Naiveté

152

(1)

Nonconformity

152

(1)

Intuition

153

(1)

Ambition, Drive

154

(1)

Interests and Values of Visual Arts Students

155

(1)

Differences in Values Among Artists According to Specialty

155

(1)

The Cognitive Aspect: Intelligence of Visual Artists

156

(2)

Spatial Intelligence

156

(1)

Use of Tests to Assess Artistic Intelligence or Talent

157

(1)

Problem-finding

157

(1)

The Domain "Thorn" in Visual Artists

158

(5)

Predictive Behaviors for Visual Arts Talent

158

(4)

Passion for the Domain

162

(1)

Sun of Home in Visual Artists

163

(2)

Sun of School in Visual Artists

165

(2)

Sun of Community and Culture in Visual Artists

167

(3)

Community and Culture for Picasso

168

(1)

Cross-Fertilization and Cross-Cultural Influences among Artists

169

(1)

Cross-Cultural Differences

170

(1)

Sun of Gender in Visual Artists

170

(4)

Biographical Example of Judy Chicago

171

(1)

Foley's Study: Having a Supportive Husband Helps

171

(2)

Biographical example of Lee Krasner

173

(1)

Self Promotion

174

(1)

Sun of Chance in Visual Artists

174

(3)

Sun of Chance

174

(2)

Biographical Example of Georgia O'Keeffe

176

(1)

Architects

177

(10)

Genetic Aspect in Architects

177

(1)

Emotional Aspect: Personalities of Architects

178

(1)

Sun of Chance in Architects

179

(2)

Biographical Example of the Saarinns

181

(2)

Biographical Example of Frank Lloyd Wright

183

(4)

Summary

187

(2)

Chapter 7. Creative Writers

189

(36)

Directory of American Poets and Fiction Writers

189

(1)

The Genetic Aspect: Creative Writers

190

(1)

The Emotional Aspect: Personalities of Creative Writers

190

(9)

Ambition/Envy

191

(1)

Productivity/Self-Discipline

191

(1)

Concern with Philosophical Matters

192

(1)

The Aesthetics of It All

192

(1)

Independence of Thought: Frankness

192

(1)

Psychopathology

193

(2)

Depression

195

(3)

A Sense of Humor

198

(1)

The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and Writers

199

(1)

The Cognitive Aspect: The Intelligence of Creative Writers

199

(3)

What Is Writing Talent?

200

(2)

The Domain "Thorn" in Creative Writers

202

(1)

Passion for the Domain

202

(1)

The Sun of Home in Creative Writers

203

(7)

Theme 1: Predictive Behavior of Extensive Early Reading

203

(1)

Theme 2: Predictive Behavior of Early Publication and Interest in Writing

203

(1)

Theme 3: Unconventional Families and Family Traumas

204

(4)

Parental Alcoholism

205

(2)

Search for the Father,

207

(1)

Theme 4: Depression and/or Acts such as Use of Alcohol, Drugs, or the Like

208

(2)

Theme 5: Being in an Occupation Different from their Parents

210

(1)

The Sun of Community and Culture in Creative Writers

210

(2)

Theme 6: Feeling of Marginalization or Being an Outsider, and a Resulting Need to Have their Group's Story Told

210

(1)

Theme 7: Late Career Recognition

211

(1)

The Sun of School in Creative Writers

212

(3)

Theme 8: High Academic Achievement and Many Writing Awards

212

(1)

Theme 9: Nurturing of Talents by Both Male and Female Teachers and Mentors

213

(1)

Theme 10: Attendance at Prestigious Colleges, Majoring in English Literature but Without Attaining the Ph.D

214

(1)

The Sun of Chance in Creative Writers

215

(1)

Theme 11: Residence in New York City at Some Point, Especially among the Most Prominent

215

(1)

Theme 12: The Accident of Place of Birth and of Ethnicity

216

(1)

The Sun of Gender in Creative Writers

216

(6)

Theme 13: Conflict with Combining Parenthood and Careers in Writing

211

(8)

Theme 14: Societal Gender Expectations Incongruent with their Essential Personalities

219

(1)

Theme 15: History of Divorce More Prevalent in Women

220

(1)

Theme 16: Military Service More Prevalent in Men

221

(1)

Summary

222

(3)

Chapter 8. Creative Writers: Children with Extraordinary Writing Talent

225

(24)

Qualities Found in the Writing of Children Who Display Extraordinary Talent

228

(4)

Prose Talent

232

Predictive Behaviors in Children with Writing Talent

231

(8)

Famous Writers as Children

239

(8)

George Eliot

239

(1)

Stephen Crane

240

(1)

Jane Austen

240

(1)

Sinclair Lewis

241

(1)

Dylan Thomas

241

(1)

Thomas Wolfe

241

(1)

Virginia Woolf

241

(1)

Tennessee Williams

242

(1)

The Brontë Family

242

(1)

Harry Crews

243

(1)

John Updike and C.S. Lewis

243

(2)

Graham Greene

245

(2)

Summary

247

(2)

Chapter 9. Creative Scientists, Mathematicians, Inventors, and Entrepreneurs

249

(40)

The Genetic Aspect in Scientists and Mathematicians

249

(1)

The Emotional Aspect: Personalities of Scientists and Mathematicians

250

(2)

Self-Discipline and Productivity

250

(1)

Motivation-Volition

251

(1)

The Cognitive Aspect: Intelligence of Scientists and Mathematicians

252

(4)

Cognitive Insight in Scientists and Mathematicians

253

(1)

Associative Richness

254

(1)

Cognitive Imagery

254

(1)

Threshold of Intelligence Needed to Do Science and Mathematics

254

(2)

The Domain Thorn: Passion for Science and Mathematics

256

(1)

Sun of Home in Scientists and Mathematicians

257

(3)

The Sun of Home in Einstein and Teller

257

(3)

Other Home Factors

260

(1)

Sun of School in Scientists and Mathematicians

260

(3)

Mentors

262

(1)

Sun of Community and Culture in Scientists and Mathematicians

263

(4)

The Influence of the Zeitgeist

263

(2)

Creativity in the Sciences as Different from that in the Arts

265

(1)

Outsiders

266

(1)

Sun of Gender in Scientists and Mathematicians

267

(4)

Helson's Study of Creative Female Mathematicians

267

(2)

Recent Studies

269

(2)

Sun of Chance in Scientists and Mathematicians

271

(4)

Serendipity

272

(1)

Biographical Example: Darwin

272

(3)

Inventors

275

(4)

Emotional Aspect: Personalities of Inventors

276

(1)

Cognitive Aspect: Inventors

277

(1)

Patterns in the Lives of Inventors

277

(2)

Entrepreneurs

279

(7)

Emotional Aspect: Personalities of Entrepreneurs

279

(2)

Sun of Gender in Entrepreneurs

281

(1)

Sun of Community and Culture in Entrepreneurs

281

(1)

Biographical Examples: J. Paul Getry, Warren Buffett, and Bill Gates

282

(4)

Summary

286

(3)

Chapter 10. Musicians, Conductors, and Composers

289

(40)

The Genetic Aspect in Musicians

291

(1)

The Emotional Aspect: Personality Attributes in Musicians

292

(4)

Kemp's Studies

292

(1)

Other Personality Studies

293

(1)

Personality Attribute of Introversion/Shyness

294

(1)

Personalities of Conductors

295

(1)

The Cognitive Aspect in Musicians

296

(2)

Standardized Tests

297

(1)

IQ Intelligence of Musicians

297

(1)

Talent in the Domain: The Thorn

298

(1)

The Sun of Home in Musicians

299

(2)

The Development of Expertise

299

(2)

The Sun of School in Musicians

301

(4)

Choosing a Career in Music

301

(3)

Life at Juilliard

304

(1)

The Sun of Community and Culture in Musicians

305

(9)

Synergy

309

(1)

Statistical Output of Composers

309

(1)

Influence of Folk Culture

310

(1)

The Influence of African-Americans on Contemporary Music

311

(3)

The Sun of Gender in Musicians

314

(7)

Why Are There So Few Women Composers?

315

(1)

Biographical Example of Marilyn Shrude

316

(5)

Women Conductors

321

(1)

Recent Research

321

(1)

The Sun of Chance in Musicians

321

(1)

The Creative Process in Music: Improvisation and Creativity

322

(6)

Summary

328

(1)

Chapter 11. Physical Performers: Actors, Dancers, and Athletes

329

(40)

Actors

331

(1)

The Genetic Aspect: Actors

332

(1)

The Emotional Aspect: Personalities of Actors

332

(1)

Actors, Dancers, Athletes: Cognitive Aspect

333

(2)

Passion for the Domain: The Thorn

335

(1)

Creative Process in Acting

335

(1)

The Sun of Home in Actors

336

(2)

The Sun of School in Actors

338

(5)

Predictive Behaviors for Acting

338

(2)

The Look

340

(3)

Actors, Dancers, Athletes: The Sun of Community and Culture

343

(3)

Famous Ensembles in Theater

344

(2)

The Sun of Gender in Actors

346

(1)

The Sun of Chance in Actors

347

(1)

Dancers and Athletes

348

(1)

The Aesthetics of Dance

349

(2)

Personality Attributes: The Emotional Aspect in Dancers and Athletes

351

(2)

Personality Studies of Dancers

351

(1)

Emotion and Personality in Athletes

352

(1)

Gifted and Tolerated

352

(1)

Mood Disorders

353

(1)

Positive Deviance

353

(1)

Mental Toughness

353

(1)

The Domain Thorn: Dance and Athletics

353

(2)

Sun of Home in Dancers and Athletes

355

(1)

Sun of School in Dancers and Athletes

356

(1)

Sun of Community and Culture in Dancers and Athletes

356

(1)

Sun of Gender in Dancers and Athletes

357

(1)

Androgyny in Athletes

357

(1)

Sun of Chance in Dancers and Athletes

358

(5)

Biographical Example of Suzanne Farrell

358

(3)

Biographical Example of Arnold Palmer

361

(2)

Physical Repercussions of Dance and Athletics

363

(2)

Assessing the Creativity of Dancers, Athletes, and Actors

365

(2)

Summary

367

(2)

Part IV. Creativity Assessment and Training

369

(78)

Chapter 12. Creativity Assessment

373

(34)

Testing for Creativity

379

(2)

Two Schools of Thought

379

(2)

Validity

381

(6)

Content/Construct Validity

381

(2)

Criterion or Predictive Validity

383

(2)

The Threshold Theory

385

(1)

Concurrent Validity Of Creativity Tests

386

(1)

Reliability

387

(7)

Reliability in Administering Tests

388

(1)

Reliability in Scoring

389

(2)

Studies of Significant Results

391

(1)

A Flawed Study of Creative Adolescents

392

(1)

The Normal Curve Assumption

393

(1)

Using Personality Questionnaires in Creativity Assessment

394

(7)

Overexcitabilities Questionnaire from the Dabrowski Theory

394

(6)

The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator

400

(1)

Creativity Checklists

401

(1)

Promising Practices in Creativity Assessment

402

(4)

Performance Assessment

402

(2)

Talent Assessment Profile

404

(2)

Summary

406

(1)

Chapter 13. Creativity Training

407

(40)

Divergent Production Training

408

(2)

Creativity Training in College Courses

410

(1)

Creativity Studies Project

410

(2)

Creativity Training in the Schools

412

(5)

Creativity Training as Differentiation for the Talented

417

(1)

Creativity Training Is Fun

418

(1)

Teachers Get More Empathy with Creativity Training

418

(2)

Core Attitudes for Creativity Enhancement

420

(5)

Core Attitude of Self-Discipline

420

(1)

Thoughtlogs

420

(1)

Cultivating Risk-Taking

421

(1)

Cultivating Naiveté

422

(1)

Group Trust

423

(2)

The Seven I's

425

(12)

Imagery

425

(1)

Guided Imagery

425

(1)

Imagination

426

(1)

Intuition

426

(2)

Psychic Intuition

427

(1)

Dreams and Intuition

427

(1)

Insight

428

(2)

Grasping the Gestalt

428

(1)

Aha'

428

(1)

Zen Sketching

429

(1)

Inspiration

430

(3)

Inspiration of Love: Visitation of the Muse

430

(1)

The Inspiration of Nature: I Am a Naturalist

431

(1)

The Inspiration of Nature: This Is the Day which the Lord Hath Made

432

(1)

The Inspiration of the Intellectual: This Takes the Top of My Head Off!

432

(1)

Improvisation

433

(2)

Jazz

433

(1)

Theater

433

(1)

Word Rivers and Writing Practice

433

(1)

Creative Movement

434

(1)

Rhythm and Drumming

434

(1)

Scat Singing

434

(1)

Doodling

434

(1)

Joke Telling

435

(1)

Incubation: The Seventh "I"-Meditation

435

(2)

Meditate on Beauty

435

(1)

Meditate on the Dark Side

436

(1)

Meditate on Spirituality

437

(1)

Other Organic, Less-Linear Creativity Exercises

437

(10)

Creativity Rituals

437

(1)

Cultivating Solitude

437

(1)

Creating Ideal Conditions

438

(1)

Background Music

438

(1)

Synesthesia

438

(1)

Seeing

439

(1)

Hearing

439

(1)

Smelling

439

(1)

Taste

439

(1)

Touch

440

(1)

Cultivation of Synchronicity

440

(1)

Exercise

441

(1)

Passion: Stepping into the River of the Domain

441

(1)

Flow

441

(1)

Conversation: A Salon

442

(1)

A Visit

442

(1)

A Bookstore or Library

442

(1)

A Museum

443

(1)

Appreciate the Creative Work of Others

443

(2)

A Play

443

(1)

A Foreign Movie

444

(1)

A Reading

444

(1)

A Lecture or Demonstration

444

(1)

A Place (Travel)

444

(1)

Other

444

(1)

Individual Creativity Project

445

(1)

Summary

446

(1)

Appendix A. Creativity Theory

447

(8)

Appendix B. Focus Questions

455

(10)

References

465

(38)

Index

503

(18)

About the Author

521

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Understanding Creativity

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials