Demystifying Creativity: What Creativity Isn’t and Is?

Abstract

To understand creativity is to recognize and develop the creative potential within oneself and others. This article examines what creativity is not and then what creativity is. First, the six leading misconceptions about creativity are discussed: Creativity belongs solely to the arts; creativity is quickly recognizable; innovators always work alone; mental illness enhances creativity; creativity is a divine flash of inspiration; and newness is a prerequisite to creativity. Then, using the research-based CATs model, what creativity is and how creativity develops into innovation are discussed: (a) cultivate creative climates; (b) nurture creative attitudes; and (c) develop creative thinking skills. Creativity does not come from nature but from nurture, and developing gifted children’s creativity should be the goal of parenting and education.

Keywords:

• creative attitude
• creative climate
• creative potential
• creative thinking
• creativity myths

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Kyung Hee Kim

Dr. Kyung Hee Kim, Professor at The College of William & Mary, is a former Chair of NAGC’s Creativity Network and is the International Representative of APA’s Division 10. Dr. Kim has won two bio-medical technology patents from the USPTO. She has developed the online CQ (Creativity Quotient) to help individuals identify and maximize their creative strengths. It expands on the Torrance tests with her patented eye-tracking technology and its instant assessment of user-generated drawings. She described “The Creativity Crisis” in a Newsweek cover story (2010) and explored its solution in The Creativity Challenge: How We Can Recapture American Innovation (2016). E-mail: [email protected]