creativity and curiosity

variability:

differences in the stimulus (don't get the same thing every time)

Raviv et al core principles

-variability is a key driver of robust learning

-variability helps children generalize beyond memorized examples

variability and abstraction

-promotes extraction of general principles

-highlights stable features/characteristics across diverse samples

variability and generalization

-improves transfer to new contexts (apply what has been learned to new situations)

-clarifies relevant vs irrelevant features

variability and overfitting

-reduces reliance on narrow cues which can be too uniform or repetitive

-encourages broader pattern learning

low variability conditions vs high variability conditions

high variability conditions have poorer learning initially, but better generalization long-term compared to low variability

variability and developmental outcomes

-use varied examples and contexts for learning

-spreading out learning improves transfer

-diverse inputs in language, motor, and conceptual learning helps

creativity:

the ability to bring into existence something new

Daniel Berlyne (1950s)

-diverse and specific curiosity

-we use creativity to reduce tension/stress levels

diversive curiosity:

what we do when we are bored

specific curiosity:

what we do when we are overstimulated

George Lowenstein

-Carnegie Mellon

-information gap

-also about reducing tension and stress

information gap:

-a specific uncertainty that one recognizes and is aware of

-feelings around the information gap is the source of curiosity

-we want to know what's going on, especially in social situations

researchers focused on sensation seeking:

Zuckerman and Renner

Zuckerman:

willingness to take risks to acquire novel, varied, intense experiences

Renner:

social curiosity, interest in other's thoughts and feelings

role of sensation seeking

people accept some tension to acquire new experiences (Zuckerman and Renner)

components of curiosity

-reducing tension

-sensation seeking

-social curiosity

-stress tolerance

-the pure joy of curiosity