Understanding Creativity

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Pub. Date: 2004-06-30
Publisher(s): Great Potential Pr Inc
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Author Biography

Jane Piirto teaches in the College of Education and is the Director of Talent Development Education at Ashland University, in Ashland, Ohio. She has published poems, short stories, articles, and eight books

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments xvii
Preface xix
Part I: Definitions and Processes of Creativity
1(80)
Making Sense of Creativity
5(36)
The Term ``Creativity''
6(2)
Psychological, Psychoanalytic, Philosophic, and Religious Overtones
8(1)
Creativity and Psychology
9(17)
Psychometric Approaches
9(1)
Torrance's Tests
10(1)
The Federal Definitions
11(1)
The Tangling of Giftedness and Creativity
11(2)
Developmental Psychology
13(1)
Gruber's ``Darwin''
13(1)
Feldman's ``Gambit''
14(1)
Expertise
14(1)
Erikson's ``Stages''
15(1)
Evolutionary Creativity
16(1)
Social Psychology
17(1)
Csikszentmihalyi's ``Big C'' and ``little c''
17(1)
Simonton's Work
18(1)
Cognitive Psychology
19(1)
Creative Cognition
20(1)
Gardner's ``Frames''
20(2)
Sternberg's Triarchies and Hierarchies, Investments, Propulsions, and Wisdom
22(1)
Educational Psychology
23(1)
Humanistic Psychology
24(1)
Dabrowski: Overexcitabilities and Developmental Levels
24(2)
Positive Psychology
26(1)
Psychoanalysis, Psychiatry, and Creativity
26(2)
Creativity and Business and Technology
28(1)
Philosophy and Creativity: Why Are We So Interested in Creativity, Anyway?
28(5)
Reasons of Quantity
29(1)
Quality as Creativity
30(1)
Creativity and Nationalism
31(1)
Creativity and Equity
31(1)
Creativity as Human Freedom
32(1)
Can a Person Be Creative Without a Product?
33(3)
Precocity as Predictive
33(1)
Creativity of the Moment and for the Ages
34(1)
Creativity Can Take Place Without Mastery
35(1)
The Existence and Development of Talent
36(1)
Creativity Is Natural
37(1)
Summary
38(3)
The Creative Process
41(40)
Current Psychological Theories of the Creative Process
41(5)
Cognitive Psychology: Selection
42(1)
Industrial Psychology: The CPS Model
42(1)
Psychoanalytic Theory: Janusian and Homospatial
42(1)
Social Psychological Theories: The Power of Suggestion and Motivation
43(1)
The Work of Brewster Ghiselin
44(1)
Flow
45(1)
Core Attitudes in the Creative Process
46(3)
Core Attitude of Naivete
46(1)
Core Attitude of Self-Discipline
47(1)
Core Attitude of Risk-Taking
47(1)
Core Attitude of Group Trust
48(1)
The Seven I's
49(18)
Inspiration
49(1)
The Visitation of the Muse
49(4)
The Inspiration of Nature
53(1)
Inspiration through Substances
54(2)
Inspiration by Others' Creativity, Especially by Works of Art and Music
56(1)
Inspiration from Dreams
57(2)
The Inspiration of Novel Surroundings: Travel
59(1)
Extrinsic Inspiration
59(1)
Imagery
60(1)
Imagination
60(2)
Intuition
62(1)
Insight
63(1)
Incubation
64(1)
Improvisation and an Attitude of Playfulness
65(2)
Other Aspects of the Creative Process
67(8)
The Need for Solitude
67(2)
Creativity Rituals
69(1)
Meditation
69(2)
Creativity as the Process of a Life
71(4)
Creativity and Madness
75(3)
Suicide Among Creators
76(2)
Conclusion
78(1)
Summary
78(3)
Part II: How To Enhance Creativity
81(52)
Encouraging Creativity: Motivation and Schooling
83(18)
What Creative Writers Said about their Schooling
84(7)
Motivating Creative Behavior
91(6)
Strong Emotion as a Motivator
91(2)
Close Your Eyes
93(2)
Escaping and Getting the Giggles
95(1)
Creativity as Spontaneous Adventures
96(1)
Creativity Is Not Permitted
97(1)
Motivation for Creativity
97(1)
Rewards
98(2)
Summary
100(1)
How Parents and Teachers Can Enhance Creativity in Children
101(32)
Provide a Private Place for Creative Work to Be Done
101(2)
Provide Materials: Musical Instruments, Sketchbooks, Fabric, Paper, Clay
103(2)
Encourage and Display the Child's Creative Work, but Avoid Overly Evaluating It
105(2)
Do Your Own Creative Work, and Let the Child See You Doing It
107(3)
Set a Creative Tone
110(2)
Value the Creative Work of Others
112(1)
Incorporate Creativity Values into Your Family Mythology
113(3)
Avoid Reinforcing Sex-Role Stereotypes
116(2)
Provide Private Lessons and Special Classes
118(3)
Use Hardship to Teach the Child Expression through Metaphor
121(3)
Discipline and Practice Are Important
124(2)
Allow the Child to be ``Odd''; Avoid Emphasizing Socialization at the Expense of Creative Expression
126(3)
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)
The Piirto Pyramid of Talent Development Model
135(12)
The Pyramid (Piiramid) of Talent Development
138(6)
The Genetic Aspect
138(1)
The Emotional Aspect: Personality Attributes
138(2)
The Cognitive Aspect
140(1)
Talent in Domains
141(1)
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)
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)
Naivete
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 Saarinens
181(2)
Biographical Example of Frank Lloyd Wright
183(4)
Summary
187(2)
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(1)
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
217(2)
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)
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(5)
Predictive Behaviors in Children with Writing Talent
237(2)
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 Bronte Family
242(1)
Harry Crews
243(1)
John Updike and C. S. Lewis
243(2)
Graham Greene
245(2)
Summary
247(2)
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)
Enterpreneurs
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 Getty, Warren Buffett, and Bill Gates
282(4)
Summary
286(3)
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)
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)
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)
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 Naivete
422(1)
Group Trust
423(2)
The Seven I's
425(12)
Imagery
425(1)
Guided Imagery
425(1)
Imagination
426(1)
Intuition
426(1)
Psychic Intuition
427(1)
Dreams and Intuition
427(1)
Insight
428(1)
Grasping the Gestalt
428(1)
Aha!
428(1)
Zen Sketching
429(1)
Inspiration
430(1)
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(1)
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(1)
Meditate on Beauty
435(1)
Meditate on the Dark Side
436(1)
Meditate on Spirituality
437(1)
Other Organic, Less-Linear Creativity Exercises
437(8)
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(1)
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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