Creativity

What is creativity?
The problem with creativity is that we know it

when we see it, but it is hard to define.

Creativity and Cognition

Creativity involves generation of new ideas
Boden

p-creativity: A new idea for a person

A person may come to a new realization

h-creativity: A new idea historically

Novel inventions are h-creative

Most of what we think of as creative is an

example of h-creativity.

h-creativity can be studied historically

You do not know when a creative event will happen

p-creativity can be studied

H-creativity

Most creative acts are rather mundane

Invention is 99% perspiration and 1% inspiration.

-Thomas Alva Edison

What makes people more creative?

A paradox

People access categories when being creative

Categories are retrieved on the basis of cues during the
creative process
The more cues available, the more access
More specific situations lead to less creativity.
Forcing people into strange situations can lead to higher
levels of creativity