Liu, W., Pan, Y., Luo, X., Wang, L. & Pang, W. (2017). Active procrastination and creative ideation: The mediating role of creative self-efficacy. Personality and Individual Differences, 119, 227-229. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2017.07.033

Active procrastination and creative ideation

Shin, J & Grant, A. (unpublished). When putting work off pays off: The curvilinear relationship between procrastination and creativity. 

When Putting Work Off Pays Off

Grinnell College

Creativity is the ability to generate, create, or discover new ideas, solutions, and possibilities.

Creativity

- Divergent thinking
- Convergent thinking 
- Group brainstorming 
- Creative cognition
- Latent inhibition (LI)
- Savant syndrome
- Common characteristics of creative individuals

Focuses of Research on Creativity

Creativity library

The cognitive ability to produce creative ideas. It is part of everyday eminent creativity, and is one of the sources of creativity. It is affected by motivation and other factors.

Creative Ideation

Intrinsic motivation and few guidelines allow people to have discression about their work. Having both intinsic motivation and the freedom of choice promotes creative ability and allows for generation of novel ideas.

Intrinsic motivation promotes creativity

Procrastination can help promote creativity when intrinsic motivation is low.

Creativity and Procrastination

In a study using fMRI to compare the cognitive processes of improvised and memorized musical sequences played by pianists, it was found that prior to performing an improvised melody, the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex deactivated, whereas it stayed active during a memorized tune.

Jazz Improvisation and Impulse Control

Highly creative individuals often exhibit a combination of traits, including possessing deep knowledge in a particular field, dedicating years to their work, exploring novel solutions, and taking risks. A crucial characteristic is their engagement with others; they benefit from seeking advice, mentorship, and collaborative discussions, as significant creative developments rarely occur in isolation.

Characteristics of Highly Creative People

Creativity is not confined to artistic expression; it is a vital form of intelligence that drives innovation across many disciplines. Its application can be seen in all areas of life, ranging from everyday problem-solving, like decorating a home, to significant scientific discoveries, such as developing a new understanding of cellular biology.

Creativity Beyond the Arts

Creativity, while often viewed as an individual strength, is significantly enhanced by social interactions. Nobel laureate Dr. Tom Steitz emphasized the crucial role of mentorship, especially early in a career, and ongoing dialogue with colleagues. He argued that major discoveries and insights do not happen in isolation but are fostered by these collaborative processes.

Collaboration and Mentorship in Creativity

A software developer has been working for years on a complex coding problem and has deep expertise in the subject, but cannot find a solution. She attends a workshop with graphic designers and, after hearing them discuss their methods for visual problem-solving, she conceives a novel algorithm that solves her problem. Based on this scenario, which factor was most instrumental in her creative breakthrough?

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