20 - Enhancing Creativity

Summary

I find the following assumptions about creativity to be plausible if not compelling: (1) Both nature and nurture are important determinants of creative expression; (2) debate over which has the greater effect is generally not very useful; (3) essentially all people of normal intelligence have the potential to be creative to some degree; (4) few people realize anything close to their potential in this regard; (5) creative expression is generally desirable, because it usually contributes positively to the quality of life of the individual who engages in it and often enriches the lives of others as well; (6) the search for ways to enhance creativity - to help people develop more of their potential - is a reasonable quest in the absence of compelling evidence that such a search is futile; (7) the evidence, although somewhat tenuous, suggests that creativity can be enhanced; and (8) how to enhance creativity is not well understood, but there are possibilities that merit exploration.

This chapter deals with two questions that relate directly to the last two assumptions: Can creativity be enhanced, and, if so, how? In stating the assumptions, I have revealed that my answer to the first question is a cautious yes, and that I believe that something useful may be said in connection with the second. I confess at the outset that much of what I have to say is speculative. Much of the literature to which I will refer is speculative as well.