the last of module 8

Opportunities for Creativity

• Novel interactions, travel, and cultural experiences enhance creativity.

• Individuals are more likely to use:

  • Metaphors

  • Mental imagery

  • Combining ideas from different sources.

• Sign of creativity: Connecting ideas in unique ways.

Personality Traits and Creativity

• Personality traits are associated with creativity, particularly:

  • Openness to experience

  • Emotional intelligence.

• Creative individuals tend to have a more complex thought process:

  • Mentally flexible

  • Unconventional work ethic and style.

Research Findings on Creativity

• Research does not suggest that creative individuals have higher IQs.

• Creative individuals may exhibit neuroticism:

  • Correlation with emotional turmoil and mood disorders.

  • Neurotic individuals might experience chaotic emotions, affecting their creative processes.

The Link Between Neuroticism and Creativity

• Neurotic individuals:

  • More sensitive and experience emotions deeply.

  • Creativity is often associated with:

    • Anxiety

    • Depression.

• Notably, creativity is not directly linked to bipolar disorder but to anxiety due to neuroticism.

• Schizophrenia has a hereditary basis linked to abnormal brain activity.

• Autism provides insights on neurodivergence and creativity:

  • ADHD relates to quick thinking but not necessarily to creativity.

Heuristics and Stereotypes

• Examples of stereotyping:

  • Car dealership scenario illustrates using representative heuristics:

    • Assume roles based on appearance and stereotypes (e.g., gender, ethnicity).

• People can subconsciously judge based on prototypes of successful individuals.

Choice Overload

• Increasing product variety in snack aisles leads to:

  • Choice overload can hinder decision-making.

  • Research indicates too many options can result in choosing nothing.

Problem Solving vs. Creative Thinking

• Distinction between problem-solving strategies:

  • Functional solutions require detailed thought processes (algorithmic solutions).

  • Creative thinking allows for divergent solutions.

• Example: Minimizing radiation in tumor treatment to protect surrounding tissue.

Types of Reasoning

• Difference between inductive and deductive reasoning:

  • Inductive Reasoning: Specific observations lead to general conclusions (e.g., effects of caffeine on sleep).

  • Deductive Reasoning: General principles applied to specific instances (e.g., rules about travel).

Heuristics Types

• Representative Heuristic: Judging based on stereotypes or prototypes.

• Availability Heuristic: Decisions based on how easily examples come to mind (e.g., fear of flying due to media coverage of plane crashes).

• Affect Heuristic: Emotions influence decision-making (e.g., investing in companies based on personal feelings).

Language and Perception

• Transformation of language impacts perceptions:

  • Active vs. passive voice affects how actions are perceived.

  • Example: "The child caught the ball" vs. "The ball was caught by the child."