Creativity : Nature

Creativity is not hereditary, but acquired. Creativity can be said to be new associations of new relations based on the prior experiences. The following few points clarify the form of creativity :

   1.  All persons have various kinds and various levels of creativity. Creativity is not limited to only a select few persons. It is an old view that creativity is found in only a few persons and that this god-gift is given to few persons. Now this view is not considered appropriate. It is often without doubt that creativity is the general quality of all persons.

   2.  Creativity is a complex process which cannot be bound by time, place and person. It can originate at any time. Creative thinking can be found in all persons—children, elderly, men and women.

   3.  There are found various qualities in creativity. Its chiefly accepted qualities are—continuity, softness, extensiveness, originality, sensitivity toward problems, humour, free style of thinking and decision-making toward various new experiences etc.

   4.  The abilities included in intellect are different from the abilities found in creative thinking. Creativity is based on divergent thinking, while in intellect, similar or uniform thinking is chiefly used. It is not necessary for all intelligent persons to be creative too.

   5.  Creativity does not arouse all of a sudden, though creative thoughts appear like lightning. The rise of creativity is as orderly as that of the sunrise.

   6.  Creativity originates from the beginning of life, and its development depends on social environment to a large extent.

   7.  It has been often seen that the persons with creative thinking are not able to tell much about its process, its original thoughts and inventions.

   8.  How far heredity affects creativity, is a moot point. Generally, it is said on the basis of researches that creativity can be developed. Creativity also changes due to the environmental conditions.

   9.  The development of creative thinking abilities goes at a different pace from the development of other qualities. Its rate of development is not uniform. It is known on the basis of research that its development is often hindered at the age of 5, 9, 13, and 17 years. According to the opinion of some people, the rate of creative thinking stops at the age of 30 years. There is no universally accepted view. It seems to be difficult at what age the creativity is at its peak.

10.  Creativity can be measured. It is not possible to measure all kinds of creative thinking by the same test. So, many kinds of tests are conducted to measure it.

11.   Development of creativity is related to various aspects of life. It is not necessary for a specific person or subject to exist. Any creative person can be a music lover, carpenter, teacher or farmer. Various human activities are the reflections of creative thinking.