Course Description
The intertwined operations of creativity, consciousness, and imagination emerge from the nexus of perception, cognition, emotion, and behavior. Understanding the nature of these rich and fundamental human capacities will be facilitated through learning about influential theoretical frameworks and exciting empirical advances that span the disciplines of psychology, philosophy, and neuroscience.
Athena Title
Creativity Conscio Imagination
Equivalent Courses
Not open to students with credit in EPSY 7575E
Semester Course Offered
Offered summer semester every year.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
Students will be able to: 1. Develop a critical understanding of the mechanisms and processes that make up the creative mind. 2. Recognize the multifaceted and complex nature of imagination as including a variety of manifestations ranging from perceptual-level imagery to reasoning-level novel combinatorial thought. 3. Critically examine theories of consciousness and methods used to assess differing conscious states. 4. Adopt a systemic approach in inferring the associated workings between operations of creativity, consciousness, and imagination. 5. Identify the utility of reflecting on the topic of creativity, consciousness, and imagination through a multidisciplinary lens.
Topical Outline
1. Creativity: Definitions and Theories 2. Creativity: Approaches and Methods 3. Creativity: Types and Individual Differences 4. Creativity: Processes and Mechanisms 5. Creativity: Critical Issues and Challenges 6. Imagination: Definitions and Theories 7. Imagination: Imagery-Based Forms 8. Imagination: Intentionality-Based Forms 9. Imagination: Phenomenology-Based Forms 10. Imagination: Novel Combinatorial-Based Forms 11. Consciousness: Definitions and Types 12. Consciousness: Theories (philosophy) 13. Consciousness: Theories (psychology, neuroscience) 14. Consciousness: Methods to Assess Conscious States 15. Consciousness: Altered States of Consciousness 16. The Nexus of Creativity, Consciousness, and Imagination: Drawing Out the Relations