Blackwell Reference Online

Extract

The generation of ideas or products that are both novel and appropriate (correct, useful, valuable, or meaningful). Psychologists have a long history of disagreement over the definition of creativity ( see Runco & Albert, 1990 ; Sternberg, 1988 ). Gestalt psychologists and, more recently, cognitive psychologists have focused on the creative process (the thought processes and stages involved in creative activity). Other theorists have argued that creativity is best conceptualized in terms of the person (the distinguishing characteristics of creative individuals). Although many contemporary theorists think of creativity as a process and look for evidence of it in persons, current definitions most frequently use characteristics of the product as the distinguishing signs of creativity. Most product definitions stipulate that a creative product or response must be both novel and appropriate. An additional criterion used by some researchers is that the task should be heuristic (open-ended) rather than algorithmic (having a clear path to solution). Although many researchers operationally define creativity as performance on creativity tests, most social psychologists working in the field consider consensual product assessment by experts as more appropriate; a product or response is deemed creative to the extent that appropriate observers agree it is creative. Until the late 1970s ... log in or subscribe to read full text