Chapter 13 (pt. 2) - Creativity

These flashcards cover key concepts, definitions, aspects of creativity, and findings discussed in the lecture notes.

What are the three criteria for creativity according to Hayes?

Must be novel or unique, must be judged as useful in some context, must have involved some special talent/ability.

What is the relationship between exploration and exploitation in creativity?

Exploration is followed by exploitation, often referred to as a ‘hot streak’.

What is a common personality trait of highly creative individuals?

A willingness to take risks and ignore criticism.

What motivated highly creative individuals according to the lecture?

They are motivated by the pleasure of the work, not by external rewards.

Define convergent thinking.

An ability to spot ways in which seemingly distinct ideas might be interconnected.

What does the Remote Associates Test (RAT) measure?

It measures convergent thinking.

Define divergent thinking.

An ability to move one’s thoughts in novel, unanticipated directions.

How does forward flow relate to creativity?

It indicates how much current thinking breaks away from past thoughts.

What does a high forward flow indicate?

It indicates more novel connections and ideas.

Who argued that creative thought proceeds in four stages?

Wallas (1926).

List the four stages of creativity according to Wallas.

Preparation, incubation, illumination, verification.

What happens during the preparation stage of creativity?

Information gathering.

What is the incubation stage of creativity?

A conscious break where the mind processes information subconsciously.

What occurs during the illumination stage?

The sudden emergence of insight or an 'AHA!' moment.

What does the verification stage involve?

Confirmation that the new idea leads to a solution.

What did Cai et al. (2009) investigate regarding creativity?

They investigated whether dreaming fuels creativity.

What was the primary task participants completed in the study involving RAT?

Participants completed a word analogy task that primed solutions for RAT.

How were the participants divided in the study?

They were divided into nap and rest groups.

What was measured to assess brain activity in participants?

EEG was used to measure brainwaves to detect REM sleep.

What was the dependent variable in the RAT study?

Performance on the RAT at 5 pm.

What were the results for participants who napped?

Napping improved performance, particularly in those who experienced REM sleep.

What is the conclusion regarding REM sleep and creativity?

REM sleep enhances the formation of associations among concepts in semantic memory.

What does an 'AHA!' moment signify?

It signals a new approach to problem-solving.

Is an 'AHA!' moment guaranteed to lead to a solution?

No, it does not guarantee that the approach will lead to the answer.

What area of the brain shows greater activity during insight solutions?

Greater activity is observed in the frontal lobe.

What area of the brain shows greater activity during non-insight solutions?

Greater activity is observed in the occipital lobe.

What was a key aspect of the personality traits of creative individuals?

They often ignore criticism.

What does 'hot streak' refer to in the context of creativity?

A period of sustained creative output following exploration.

What did Jackson Pollock's ‘drip’ paintings exemplify in creativity?

Exploration followed by a unique form of expression.

During which years did the Beatles exemplify high creativity?

1965-1969.

What did the study aim to determine about sleep?

The effect of REM sleep on creative problem-solving.

What was unique about the nap condition in the study?

Participants used solutions that were primed by a previous task after napping.

What is a common misconception about the stages of creativity?

That they happen in a linear or back-and-forth sequence.

What role does semantic memory play in creativity according to the findings?

It plays an important role in forming associations that lead to insight.

What does low forward flow indicate concerning creative connections?

It indicates fewer novel connections and more traditional lines of thought.

How might knowing too much in a domain affect creativity?

It might limit exploratory thinking, causing reliance on established routines.

What can high levels of stress do to creativity?

They can inhibit the creative process.

What aspect of creativity involves a conscious break?

The incubation stage allows for subconscious processing.

Can external rewards enhance creativity?

They may not be as effective as intrinsic motivation.

What did the RAT enable researchers to assess in the participants?

Their ability to connect seemingly unrelated concepts.