Creativity
Ability to generate novel and valuable ideas or works.
Creativity is the ability to generate novel and valuable ideas or works through the exercise of imagination. Its products may be intangible, such as ideas, scientific theories, literary works, musical compositions, and jokes, or physical, such as inventions, dishes, jewelry, costumes, and paintings. Creativity also describes the ability to find new solutions to problems or new methods to accomplish goals.
- field
- Psychology, business studies, cognitive science, education, humanities
- known_for
- Production of novel, useful products; distinction from innovation; emotional creativity
- etymology
- From Latin creare ('to create') and crescere ('to let things grow')
- earliest_english_usage
- 14th century (Chaucer, referring to divine creation)
- modern_concept_emerged
- Renaissance, influenced by humanism
Lore & Background
Most ancient cultures, including ancient Greece, ancient China, and ancient India, lacked the concept of creativity, seeing art as a form of discovery rather than creation. In the Judeo-Christian-Islamic tradition, creativity was seen as the sole province of God, and human creativity was considered an expression of God's work. The modern conception of creativity arose during the Renaissance, influenced by humanist ideas, and was first conceived as arising from the abilities of 'great men' rather than as a conduit from the divine. The shift from divine inspiration to individual ability became apparent during the Age of Enlightenment, and by the 18th century creativity became linked with imagination.
Reader's Guide
Creativity has been studied across several disciplines, primarily psychology, business studies, and cognitive science, as well as education and the humanities. Scholarly definitions generally agree that creativity involves the production of novel, useful products, though over a hundred different definitions exist. It is distinguished from innovation, which emphasizes implementation. The Wallas model, one of the first models of the creative process, describes five stages: preparation, incubation, intimation, illumination or insight, and verification. Creativity can serve to increase neuronal connectivity, cognitive and emotional coherence, and social cohesion, and may help cope with despair, hate, and violence. The concept's history shows a gradual shift from divine inspiration to human agency, with the modern meaning emerging only after the Age of Enlightenment.
Did You Know?
- The English word 'creativity' comes from the Latin term creare, meaning 'to create', and its root crescere means 'to let things grow'.
- The word 'create' appeared in English as early as the 14th century in Chaucer's The Parson's Tale, indicating divine creation.
- Over a hundred different definitions of creativity can be found in the literature.
- Emotional creativity is described as a pattern of cognitive abilities and personality traits related to originality and appropriateness in emotional experience.
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