Big C Research – The Big Challenge? Reflections from Research into Eminent Creativity in the Light of the Investment Theory of Creativity

In this article, based on personal experience, I present the challenges , associated with the study of eminent creativity (Big-C creativity) in the light of the investment theory of creativity (Sternberg & Lubart, 1991, 1996). I point out the difficulties and costs (obstacles specific to this area of research) that the researcher needs to take into consideration and I try to determine the potential profits (in the form of publications in leading journals) associated with the decision to explore this field. Reflections and impressions related to conducting a research project about eminent creativity are complement ed by statements from professional art critics, renowned Polish artists, excerpts from correspondence with prominent artists, their managers, and researchers of eminent creativity, and a comparison of publications devoted to potential and realized creativity in four leading creativity journals. Based on the analyses of this diverse information, studying eminent creativity would seem to be a risky investment, requiring specific research efforts while giving uncertain profits in the form of publication of the results.This study was supported by a grant DEC-2011/03/N/HS6/05137 from the National Science Centre, Poland. I thank Maciej Karwowski for his [email protected] of Educational Sciences, Academy of Special Education, 40 Szczesliwicka St., 02-353 Warsaw, Poland11334

Creativity and social interactions

Abstract In this editorial we discuss the reasons behind choosing social interactions as the theme for this CTRA special issue. We briefly describe the transition in creativity research from a paradigm centered on the individual and his/her intra-psychological predispositions to one focused on the social, systemic approach to creativity in which this phenomenon is not only facilitated or inhibited by social factors, but embedded in and multi-directionally connected to the socio-cultural and material context in which it takes place. We end with a brief description of the contributions to this special issue.</jats:p

Personality predictors of creative achievement and lawbreaking behavior

This article investigates how Big Five personality traits are related to creative achievements and lawbreaking behavior in a large sample (N = 1669) of Polish adults. Structural equation modelling with personality modelled as a bi-factor structure demonstrated a weak, yet significant link (r = .21) between latent factors of creative achievements and lawbreaking behavior. A general factor of personality was unrelated to creative achievement, but negatively linked to lawbreaking behavior. Lawbreaking behavior was also negatively predicted by conscientiousness and agreeableness, while only openness positively predicted creative achievement. A person-centered analysis illustrated three distinct personality profiles: resilient, undercontrolled, and overcontrolled that differed in both lawbreaking behavior and creative achievements

The lived experiences of experienced Vipassana Mahasi meditators: an interpretative phenomenological analysis.

Research into the effects and mechanisms of mindfulness training draws predominantly on quantitative research. There is a lack of understanding about the subjective experiences of experienced mindfulness meditators, which may provide additional insights into the effects, processes and context of mindfulness training. This qualitative study explored the lived experiences of a novel group of experienced mindfulness meditators who practise Vipassana Mahasi (VM) meditation. The study aimed to understand how experienced VM practitioners make sense of the effects of practice and what processes they ascribe to it. Participants attended semistructured interviews, and their responses were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Results yielded overarching themes including (a) improvements in hedonic and eudaimonic well-being; (b) insights into self, others and perception of reality; (c) attaining equanimity; and (d) physical and interpersonal difficulties. Participants perceived VM as a ‘cleansing’ process whereby maladaptive responses were eliminated through mindfulness, other supportive mental qualities, decentering and nonattachment. The findings revealed a complex and dynamic set of interdependent outcomes and processes, which are reinforced by Buddhist teachings and ethical practices. This study highlights the need for additional interdisciplinary research into topics such as insight generation and supportive mental qualities cultivated during VM, novel states of well-being informed by Buddhist constructs and interpersonal difficulties related to long-term practice. Findings also suggest that incorporating Buddhist teachings and ethics into mindfulness-based interventions may enhance practitioner understanding and implementation of meditation techniques.N/

Exploring the Creative Process: Integrating Psychometric and Eye-Tracking Approaches

This exploratory study aims at integrating the psychometric approach to studying creativity with an eye-tracking methodology and thinking-aloud protocols to potentially untangle the nuances of the creative process. Wearing eye-tracking glasses, one hundred adults solved a drawing creativity test – The Test of Creative Thinking-Drawing Production (TCT-DP) – and provided spontaneous comments during this process. Indices of visual activity collected during the eye-tracking phase explained a substantial amount of variance in psychometric scores obtained in the test. More importantly, however, clear signs of methodological synergy were observed when all three sources (psychometrics, eye-tracking, and coded thinking-aloud statements) were integrated. The findings illustrate benefits of using a blended methodology for a more insightful analysis of creative processes, including creative learning and creative problem-solving

Advancing Creativity Theory and Research: A Socio-cultural Manifesto

This manifesto, discussed by 20 scholars, representing diverse lines of creativity research, marks a conceptual shift within the field. Socio-cultural approaches have made substantial contributions to the concept of creativity over recent decades and today can provide a set of propositions to guide our understanding of past research and to generate new directions of inquiry and practice. These propositions are urgently needed in response to the transition from the Information Society to the Post-Information Society. Through the propositions outlined here, we aim to build common ground and invite the community of creativity researchers and practitioners to reflect up, study, and cultivate creativity as a socio-cultural phenomenon

Conservatism negatively predicts creativity: A study across 28 countries

Previous studies have found a negative relationship between creativity and conservatism. However, as these studies were mostly conducted on samples of homogeneous nationality, the generalizability of the effect across different cultures is unknown. We addressed this gap by conducting a study in 28 countries. Based on the notion that attitudes can be shaped by both environmental and ecological factors, we hypothesized that parasite stress can also affect creativity and thus, its potential effects should be controlled for. The results of multilevel analyses showed that, as expected, conservatism was a significant predictor of lower creativity, adjusting for economic status, age, sex, education level, subjective susceptibility to disease, and country-level parasite stress. In addition, most of the variability in creativity was due to individual rather than country-level variance. Our study provides evidence for a weak but significant negative link between conservatism and creativity at the individual level (? = −0.08, p < .001) and no such effect when country-level conservatism was considered. We present our hypotheses considering previous findings on the behavioral immune system in humans.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Estudio piloto de la influencia de una intervención basada en mindfulness y autocompasión sobre la creatividad verbal y figurativa en estudiantes universitarios

La formación en habilidades creativas debe ser uno de los objetivos fundamentales en la enseñanza universitaria, ya que favorece la adaptación y el afrontamiento eficaz de los alumnos ante las exigencias sociales y de los ámbitos académico y laboral. Este estudio analiza los efectos de una intervención basada en mindfulness y autocompasión sobre la creatividad verbal y figurativa en un grupo de estudiantes de nuevo ingreso en la universidad. La muestra del estudio estuvo formada por 23 alumnos pertenecientes al Grado de Magisterio. El grupo experimental (n = 14) formó parte de una intervención basada en mindfulness y autocompasión de 4 semanas de duración. En el grupo control (n = 9) no se llevó a cabo ninguna intervención. Los resultados muestran mejoras significativas en los niveles de atención plena y autocompasión y en la creatividad verbal y figurativa de los alumnos del grupo experimental, especialmente en la fluidez y originalidad verbal y en la fluidez y elaboración figurativa. Finalmente, se discuten las implicaciones que el entrenamiento en mindfulness y autocompasión tiene para el desarrollo creativo y el afrontamiento de los retos y aprendizajes que la formación universitaria plantea

Innovative Work Behavior and Sex-Based Stereotypes: Examining Sex Differences in Perceptions and Evaluations of Innovative Work Behavior

Building on role congruity theory, we predict that innovative work behaviors are stereotypically ascribed to men more than to women. Because of this bias, women who innovate may not receive better performance evaluations than those who do not innovate, whereas engaging in innovative work behaviors is beneficial for men. These predictions were supported across 3 complementary field and experimental studies. The results of an experiment (Study 1; N = 407) revealed that innovative work behaviors are stereotypically associated with men more than women. In Studies 2 and 3, using multisource employee evaluation data (N = 153) and by experimentally manipulating innovative work behaviors (N = 232), respectively, we found that favorable performance evaluations were associated with innovative work behaviors for men but not for women. These studies highlight a previously unidentified form of sex bias and are particularly important for those wishing to increase innovative behaviors in the workplace: We need to address this phenomenon of “think innovation-think male.