Creativity

Creativity is the ability to generate ideas, solutions, or expressions that are novel and valuable to oneself or others. 

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We might tend to equate creativity with 'Big C' creativity, the type of creative output that leads to lasting impact on society, arts, or culture. Big C creativity arises at the intersection of talent, persistence, and opportunity. Yet everyone can be, and is, creative. We all engage in everyday problem solving and personal expression. This is 'Little C' creativity, which Beghetto and Kaufman break into three categories: Mini C, Little C, and Pro C. We might think of Mini C as creativity at home, Little C as crafts and hobbies, and Pro C as creativity at work.

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Whether Big or Little C, creativity cannot occur without knowledge, curiosity, playfulness, time, and the right amount of pressure.

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There are multiple theories of creativity, from the Big C/Little C theory of Ellis Torrance cited above, to the Componential Theory of Creativity (Teresa Amabile), to the Stage Theory of Creativity (Graham Wallas and others), and beyond. Though one could be forgiven for thinking that creativity is fundamentally a psychological process, this is not really the case. Here at Shalem Bayit, we don't limit our exploration of creativity theory to psychological processes, but we pursue diverse perspectives on creativity from fields such as mathematics, biology, physics and economics. 

 

Exploring the diverse theories of creativity is not purely an exercise in naval gazing; exploration informs creative practice. 

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