Have you heard of Howard Gardner’s model of Multiple Intelligences? In Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences (1983), Gardner proposed that intelligence is not a single entity but rather a set of distinct abilities or intelligences. His model now includes eight types of intelligence: 1) linguistic, 2) logical-mathematical, 3) spatial, 4) musical, 5) kinesthetic, 6) interpersonal, 7) intrapersonal, and 8) naturalistic.
Creativity is a kind of intelligence. At least, that’s the only thing that makes sense to me. Although Gardener did not list creativity as a type of intelligence, it’s difficult to understand creativity other than as a type of intelligence. Creativity is a category that exists across many kinds of intelligence.
Naturally, other researchers have different models of intelligence. In his “Triarchic Theory of Intelligence,” Robert Sternberg does list creativity as a component or form of intelligence. His three types of intelligence are:
- 1) Analytical, 2) Creative, and 3) Practical
Here is the thing about models. Many different models can all make sense at the same time. Models can only attempt to capture the truth. What is creativity? That’s what we are trying to figure out.
Divergent Thinking and Other Key Traits of Creativity
What is creativity? So far, we have concluded it’s a type of intelligence that relates to many different types of intelligence. When thinking about all the different types of creative people in many different fields, I’ve concluded that “Divergent Thinking” may be the key trait.
Divergent Thinking comes down to three key concepts:
1) Ideas: The ability to generate many ideas and different types of ideas related to a topic.
2) Perspectives: The ability to think, see, or perceive differently, aka thinking outside the box.
3) Connections: The ability to make unique or novel connections between seemingly unrelated concepts.
Every field has domain-specific traits of creativity. But what do creative people across various fields have in common? Here is a brief list:
They: 1) Question things, 2) See things differently, 3) See things at a deeper level, 4) Grasp the essence, 5) Consider possibilities, 6) Generate ideas, 7) Experiment, 8) Accept failures as a part of the process, 9) See through the clutter, 10) Make connections, 11) Use good judgment or intuition, 12) Use flexibility in their thinking, 13) Use outside-the-box thinking, and 14) Use reflective thinking.
Creativity for Everyone: Understanding Creativity Across Various Fields
Once again, we are looking at what we might consider the qualities or traits of creativity. Consider the various fields below. We could go through history and find examples of people who were creative geniuses in all of these different fields.
- Art, fashion, cooking, dance, sports, comedy, acting, music, writing, social media, language.
- Science, math, invention, technology, architecture, medicine, design.
- Philosophy, economics, environmentalism, activism, leadership, business, persuasion, politics, negotiation.
Are or were any of these people creative? 1) Van Gogh, 2) Steve Jobs, 3) J.K. Rowling, 4) Thomas Edison, 5) Mozart, 6) Gandhi, 7) Miles Davis, 8) Leonardo da Vince, 9) Shakespeare, 10) Marie Curie, 11) Muhammad Ali, 12) Temple Grandin, 13) Kim Kardashian, 14) Chris Rock, 15) Steven Spielberg, 16) Abraham Lincoln, 17) Michael Jordan.
Obviously, we could keep this list going. Could any of these people do or achieve what another one did? In most cases, no. Their types of intelligence are quite different.
Here is a list of words and phrases that describe varying degrees and aspects of human ability and intelligence. Although I don’t present this list as a hierarchy, it’s reasonable to put creative genius at the top of this list.
- 1) lucky, 2) well trained, 3) highly skilled, 4) talented, 5) gifted, 6) creative, 7) genius, 8) creative genius.
Who is a genius? Who is a creative genius? Who is just lucky or highly skilled? Most people let their opinions cloud their judgment on this topic. Armchair athletes give no credit to people who change the world (for good or bad) as if they could themselves. On the other hand, people also put others up on a pedestal when it is really just one small aspect of them that deserves to be up on that pedestal.
Creativity: Is Creativity Nature or Nurture?
We are all born with gifts and personalities. Often, the gifts and personalities seem intertwined. Are these gifts and personalities nature, nurture, or both? Well, at conception, it’s nature. But it becomes a process of nature and nurture even while we are in the womb. After we are born, nature and nurture continue to be. The gifts and personalities we are born with are not necessarily the ones we end up with. Who doesn’t know that?
Multiple intelligences and creativity are among those intelligences that are a part of these gifts and personalities. They are all influenced by and transformed through nature and nurture. That’s my simplified interpretation of the science using what I see as common sense.
Point Being: Here you are with whatever creative abilities you have. Can you change your creative abilities? Yes. And these changes will continue to be an issue of nature and nurture. So, let’s take a look at both aspects.
Nature: The simplest version of nature is that you are your decisions. Yes, you can change your nature, but it’s one decision at a time. Put simply, your nature is only your current nature. Many factors influence our current nature: 1) genetic inheritance, 2) current health, 3) current biological processes, 3) current abilities, 4) current temperament, 5) current mental health, 6) current neurological wiring, 7) current overall mindset, 8) current social skills, 9) current level of various types of multiple intelligences, etc.
Nurture: Life teaches us. That’s nurture. Strangely, different people learn different lessons from the same experiences due to differences in our natures. Here are various aspects of life that nurture us both good and bad: 1) family, 2) friends, 3) life experiences, 4) physical environment, 5) healthcare, 6) education, 7) learning, 8) cultural influences, 9) socioeconomic influences, etc.
Nature and Nurture: Can You Improve Your Creative Thinking Skills?
Improving one’s creativity is no easy task. Learning techniques, strategies, and concepts about painting are far easier than learning how to think creatively about painting. To be fair, learning techniques, strategies, and concepts will improve your creative thinking because you will see things differently. And that is at the heart of creativity. On the other hand, a true artist moves beyond these skills and techniques to think differently. Through nature or nurture, creative people think differently.
Can you learn creative thinking? Yes. Definitely. However, let me be straight here: Some of the most boring books I’ve ever read were on improving creative thinking skills. Furthermore, every minute you spend on one thing means you can’t spend it on something else that may benefit you even more. In short, you may be better off spending your time improving other aspects of your life.
In fact, learning essential skills, strategies, and techniques on essential or even creative topics is often a better use of time than learning creative thinking techniques. Furthermore, clear, organized, and logical thinking is essential for every person in this modern world. For example, Academic Vocabulary for Critical Thinking, Logical Arguments, and Effective Communication will change how you think and communicate forever. This program is a key to both academic and professional success.
Having said that, learning creative thinking techniques creates a rare way of thinking and can lead to breakthroughs in the most unexpected ways at the most unexpected times. So, here we are at a moment of nature and nurture. I place before you a list of books related to creative thinking. Nurture: Is it possible to get the books? Nature: Will you read the books?
- The Act of Creation (1964) by Arthur Koestler
- A Technique for Producing Ideas (1940) by James Webb Young
- Applied Imagination: Principles and Procedures of Creative Problem-Solving: (1953) by Alex F. Osborn
- Creative Problem Solving: An Introduction (1994) by Donald J. Treffinger
- Serious Creativity: Using the Power of Lateral Thinking to Create New Ideas (1993) by Edward de Bono
- The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity (1992) by Julia Cameron
- The Creative Thinker’s Toolkit (2014) by The Great Courses and Professor Gerard Puccio
- Thinkertoys: A Handbook of Creative-Thinking Techniques (1991) by Michael Michalko
- Lateral Thinking: Creativity Step by Step (1970) by Edward de Bono
- Six Thinking Hats (1999) by Edward de Bono
- The Craft of Creativity (2018) by Matthew A. Cronin and Jeffrey Loewenstein
Once again, I recommend Academic Vocabulary for Critical Thinking, Logical Arguments, and Effective Communication. It provides the foundation you need to truly improve your creative thinking skills.
Creativity: A Nature and Nurture Example
You may have heard the stories about how Mozart and Beethoven intuitively understood the piano the first time they saw one. The reality is that there is no evidence that this is true.
It is true that both had parents who saw they had a musical gift at an early age and that they were well into their music studies by the time they were five years old. The same scenario plays out in Rocketman (2019), the Elton John biopic. Elton demonstrates a musical gift, and the next line is, “Maybe we should get him some lessons.” Put simply, a considerable part of their creativity came from their extensive training from a young age. That’s nature and nurture.
Put another way, their massive and enduring success is part (1) creative gift and (2) largely hard work.
Have you ever met anyone who needed to improve their emotional intelligence? Well, we have sensitivity training for that. In fact, we now have training for every form of intelligence. Training in creative thinking relates to training in many types of intelligence.
As I see it, training in creative thinking has three primary purposes. It improves (1) idea generation, (2) seeing possibilities, and (3) making connections. In short, you must be able to see it to achieve it. If you are stuck in any area of life, you need to get ideas, see possibilities, and make connections. After that, we need to (4) think logically, (5) take action, (6) use good judgment, (7) evaluate outcomes, (8) rinse and repeat, etc.
How Essential Is Creative Thinking?
Please note that I have an entire series of articles on creativity and creative thinking. The main purpose of these articles is to help people understand creativity so that they will understand how to develop their creative thinking skills.
However, I like to put things in perspective. Many books on creative thinking will say that creativity is the most valuable skill. To be clear, creative thinking is a valuable tool. Creativity is especially valuable in these four areas: 1) Artistic Endeavors, 2) Innovation, 3) Entrepreneurship, and 4) Problem Solving.
If you wish to become a CEO of a major corporation or are involved with the arts, you probably need to be a highly creative thinker. If you are not, you may struggle.
And yes, absolutely everyone will benefit from improving their creative thinking skills. Reading even three books on creative thinking will separate you from the crowd. The fact is that most people won’t even read one of those books. Once again, these are not my favorite books to read. I only do so because I find them valuable.
On the other hand, every minute you spend on one thing means that you can’t spend it on something else that may benefit you even more. For most people, creative thinking is not the most valuable life skill. Dependability, steadfastness, integrity, personality, people skills, kindness, empathy, diligence, logic, rationality, adaptability, flexibility, enthusiasm, initiative, focus, emotional stability, emotional intelligence, level-headedness, work ethic, sense of fairness, trustworthiness, prudence, fortitude, credibility, persistence, commitment, drive, grit, resilience, willpower, knowledge, skill, time management, decision making, and productivity may all be more valuable than creativity.
Here is a final model that attempts to place creativity in perspective. How do you create success? Creativity alone is rarely enough. It’s no secret that many creative people and even creative geniuses have led difficult lives. Although creativity is a valuable puzzle piece, it’s only one piece. Take a look!
1. Logic: We want to use clear, organized, and logical thinking.
2. Expertise: We want to have and apply skills, techniques, and knowledge.
3. Creativity: We want to get ideas, see possibilities, make connections, and trust intuitions.
4. Decision Making: We want to use good judgment, consider probabilities, and strategize.
5. Process: We want to have goals, take action, evaluate outcomes, continue forward, or change directions.
6. Grit: We want to exercise persistence, resilience, willpower, and determination.
7. Emotional Intelligence: Self: We want to have passion, enthusiasm, desire, level-headedness, accept setbacks, and be long-term positive and short-term realistic.
8. Emotional Intelligence: Others: We want to have empathy, understanding, rapport skills, cultural intelligence, theory-of-mind skills, the ability to listen, and care.
I hope you do read one or five of those books on creative thinking. You won’t regret it! But before you do, be sure to read Academic Vocabulary for Critical Thinking, Logical Arguments, and Effective Communication. It will transform the way you think and communicate! I guarantee it!
