Creativity:

Initial Problem in Defining Creativity

Society respects creativity less than intelligence & academic ability (a bias evident
particularly in schools)

Standardized tests tend to ignore creativity (Ford, Harris & Winborne, 1990)

Traditionally, society has provided a hazy yet rigidly defined impression of creativity

Creativity suffers in cultures or societies that do not appreciate creative people

(Marl,1976 & Torrance, 1984)

The creative person conceives something new, makes something real that was unreal (i.e.,
fictitious, imaginary), actualizes what was formerly only potential.
There are the commonly held conceptions of creativity, but researchers have not agreed,
and still do not agree, on what is meant by creativity (Glover, Ronning, & Reynolds, 1989;
Krebs & Shelley, 1975; Runco & Albert, 1990)
Myth 1:
Creativity is only important in some areas of human activity

This view is all rooted to the all common misconception that creativity involves artistic
sensibility.

However, scientists and mathematicians are no less creative in their fields than artists
and creative writers.

Myth 2:
The creative process just happens; it is always inspirational, effortless and comes like a
bolt from the blue.

This derives, in part, from the thought that creative thinking is somehow separate from
other forms of thinking and that it is not possible to plan for creative ideas.

The notions that creative individuals will come up with ideas because they are good at
that sort of thing and that disciplined thinking is at odds with creative thinking needs
to be challenged.

Myth 3:
Creative people are somehow special, a bit different from the rest of us and actually a bit
strange in some way.

Historically this view of things is associated with formal educations preoccupation with
conformity.

In a system where what was learned and how it was learned were best determined by
the teacher or the system, any deviation from the orthodox approach was thought
unconventional and even dangerous in that it challenged the status quo and
destabilized the system with catastrophic consequences!