Course Description
Theory and research concerned with the creative process, creative problem solving, creative thinking abilities and their measurement, the creative personality, and environmental and classroom conditions that facilitate creative functioning and development.
Athena Title
Theories of Creativity
Equivalent Courses
Not open to students with credit in EPSY 8220E
Prerequisite
Permission of department
Semester Course Offered
Offered every year.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
Students who successfully complete this course should be able to: 1. explain and compare several definitions and theories of creativity. 2. identify major theorists with their theories of creativity. 3. analyze literature on creativity for its theoretical base. 4. explain and justify your own theory of creativity as embracing one that exists, synthesizes several, or breaks new ground. 5. develop a project that applies or explores in greater depth one or more of the theories of creativity. 6. respond knowledgeably to the following questions: Who is creative? What is creativity? Is the creative process the same for all individuals and across domains? Must creativity result in a product? In what ways does the environment affect creativity? 7. access various sources of information on creativity: journals, websites, books, etc.
Topical Outline
1. Introduction/Overview 1.1. Theoretical/historical overview 1.2. Terms 1.3. Major theorists 2. Theoretical Perspectives 2.1. Spiritual/Philosophical 2.2. Psychodynamic 2.3. Trait Theories 2.4. Biological Bases 2.5. Behaviorist/ Rational thinking 2.6. Cognitive 2.7. Social Psychological 2.8. Developmental; Prodigies 2.9. Humanist; 2.10. Evolving Systems and Systems 3. Techniques 3.1. Experiments 3.2. Case Studies; 3.3. Historiometry 3.4. Psychometric Approach 4. Special Topics (can vary) 4.1. Culture; 4.2. Psychopathology; 4.3. Gender 4.4. Synesthesia; 4.5. Computer Models 4.6. ESP; 4.7. Synchronicity; 4.8. Organizational; 4.9. Enhancing 4.10. Substance abuse 18. Summary
Syllabus
Public CV