Here is your Comprehensive Essay on Creativity

The ability to create or discover something that is novel and has some value for the society is called creativity.

For example, the discovery of penicillin is formulation of the concept of relativity, creation of television, Tagore’s work Gitanjali and the link are acts of creativity. The definition of creativity stated that something that is created should be novel and of some value.

Novel means the unusual nature of the thing that is created whether it is penicillin, the concept of relativity or Gitanjali. The emphasis is on the production of something new. Equally important is the value which means that products of creativity should be of some value to human beings.

For instance, the discovery of penicillin, formulation of the concept of relativity and creation of television has been turning points in the development of knowledge as well as for human beings and society. Further, Tagore’s writings speak certain basic truths I about humanity and seem as powerful now as when he conceived them.

Psychologists in general, to name a few, Guilford, Hayes, Taylor, Torrance, Wallach and Koran, accept the novelty and value aspects of creativity.

Do Individual Differ in Creativity

The major component of creativity is divergent thinking which refers to the thinking process involved in generating alternative ideas or answers to a given problem. Creativity involves a cluster of abilities based on the divergent thinking process. They are as under in a hierarchical order.

1. Ability to sense problems i.e. an awareness of the defects needs and deficiencies in the environment. For example: Sensing the need to improve the telephone.

2. Fluency i.e. the ability to express or generate multiple solutions of a give problem or concept. For example: List the number of uses of the news pap

3. Flexibility i.e. the ability to state a variety of solutions or answers to problem and reflects the ability to change the direction of one’s thinking. Ft example-Variety of uses of the newspaper can be identified as source of new packing material.

4. Originality i.e. the ability to produce unique or new ideas. Inventions are the most common example of this aspect of creativity. For example Ability t suggests a new title of a poem.

5. Elaboration i.e. the ability to develop well an idea or insight. For example the idea that by providing only information to students does not develop the’ competencies rather the task or activity-based approach would ensure student involvement in learning and development of competencies.

6. Redefinition i.e. the ability to improvise operations in situations where familiar function is performed with an object which is not normally used performs such a function. For example-using a bangle or a cold drink can drab circles. Though creativity is essentially based on the ability of divergent thinking, psychologists opine that components such as intelligence, knowledge and motivation are linked to creativity. In fact, intelligence involves, cognition and convergent thinking i.e. form of thinking which is needed in a situation where there is only one acceptable answer.

Psychologists opine that a certain level of intelligence is required for creativity. For instance, Mackinnon had studied highly creativity individual’s link (biologists, mathematicians, architects and social scientists. This person had IQs ranging from 120 to 177.

The study indicates that highly creative individuals had higher than average level of intelligence. Yet they were not brighter than their noncreative colleagues. It means that there is no difference in the IQ scores of! say, the highly creative architect and the non-creative architect.

Thus, if a person possesses higher than average level of intelligence alone it does not guarantee or give assurance of creativity. It implies that creativity is essentially divergent thinking process but there is a place for cognition and convergent thinking too.

The reality is that creativity is directly linked to knowledge and motivation. A biologists or a musician cannot become creative until he acquires a great deal of knowledge in the field of biology or music.

By devoting study over a long period of time one becomes able to gain knowledge in the field. Motivation to produce original work is another factor.

Motivational factor, consist of the following:

1. A desire to question.

2. High intellectual persistence.

3. Tendency to put up with frustration of not being able to find solution.

4. Delight in trying with ideas and curiosity.

Thus, divergent thinking abilities, intelligence, knowledge and motivation are helpful in understanding creativity and in identifying individual differences in creativity. The fact is that individuals do not possess the same level of divergent thinking abilities, knowledge, intelligence and motivation.

Such differences create difference in creativity. Such individuals, besides some other traits link the ability to sense problem fluency, originality, flexibility, elaboration and redefinition, are not found in the equal level in the same individual.

Again differences in intelligence, knowledge and motivation strengthen the difference in creativity. Thus, differences in divergent thinking abilities, intelligence, knowledge and motivation, are responsible for differences in creativity in the field of study or work chosen-by individuals.