Creativity is a dynamic process in which “creators think, feel, experience, motivate and direct themselves, and behave related to the generation of original and meaningful creative outcomes” (R. Richards, 1999b, p. 733), requiring certain kinds of cognition (Guilford, 1967; Runco & Sakamoto, 1999; Russ, 1993; Ward, Smith, & Finke, 1999), personality traits (Sternberg, 1985), and motivation (Amabile, 1983; Csikszentmihalyi, 1996). The creative process can result in adaptation and regeneration (R. Richards, 2000-2001), self actualization (Maslow, 1971), or a fulfillment of human potential (May, 1975), which can be expressed through an individual, society, or culture (Csikszentmihalyi, 1994, 1996; Csikszentmihalyi & Sawyer, 1995; Simonton, 1988).

The category creativity was divided into a number of sets and subsets by different researchers proposing related yet somewhat different models. Kaufman and Beghetto (J. C. Kaufman & Beghetto, 2009) recognized that creativity was typically dichotomized into everyday creativity and high C creativity.  These two categories are the most fully developed and widely accepted concepts of creativity within the field of psychology and the subfield of creativity studies. Some of the categories and subcategories, used by researchers in their studies of creativity, are set out in the table below.

The discussion regarding different types of creativity continues below the table.

You may click on the table to see a larger image.

Everyday Creativity

Everyday creativity includes a wide span of creative endeavors. For R. Richards (1999a), everyday creativity includes “the creative person or creative outcome (products, ideas, or behaviors) that involve day-to-day activities at work and during leisure time. These are characterized both by originality… and meaningfulness to others” (p. 683).

Everyday creativity is a “survival capability – representing the ‘phenotypic plasticity’ that allows humans to adapt to changing environments – and a humanistic force in ongoing growth, personal development, and even transcendence” (R. Richards, 1999a, p. 684).

As a set, everyday creativity can be divided into subsets. These subsets distinguish points on the spectrum of creativity.  Everyday creativity is a broad category reaching beyond leisure activities and “extend[ing] from mini-c to little-c through Pro-c” creativity (Kaufman & Beghetto, 2009, p. 6), including middle C creativity as well. 

Low C creativity.

Low C creativity is “exemplified by original transformations in small products, thoughts, or expressions. Examples might be a satisfying flower arrangement or a humorous play on words” (Morelock & Feldman, 1999, p. 449).

Middle C and Pro-c creativity.

Middle C creativity results in “products appreciated in terms of interpretive skill, mastery of technical forms, distinctive style, and success in achieving a technical, practical, commercial, or academic goal” (Morelock & Feldman, 1999, p. 449). Middle C creativity is likely to be seen in traditional arts where less value is placed on originality and more value is associated with perpetuating a traditional art form as a means of sustaining and supporting traditional culture. Middle C creativity also “refers to creativity in the expression of professional expertise. It is about creative products appreciated for interpretive skill, mastery of technical terms, distinctive style and success in achieving a technical, practical, commercial or academic goal” (Mann & Chan, 2011, p. 7). 

Middle C creativity “includes creative acts that have substantial social impact beyond the creative agents’ immediate circle of acquaintances, but which do not transform entire fields or subfields” (Harrington, 2004, p. 180), and generally limited in effect to one organization or a modest sized community (Moran, 2009).

Pro-c creativity, similar to middle C creativity, is a level of professional expertise that is not domain transforming. “Anyone who attains professional-level expertise in any creative area is likely to have attained Pro-c status” (Kaufman & Beghetto, 2009, p. 5). Generally, 10 years of training, formal or informal apprenticeship, being mentored, and ongoing practice is required to attain pro-c status.

Middle C and pro-c categories of creativity define sets of individuals that make “solid, professional creative contributions” (Kaufman & Beghetto, 2009, p. 5), but are not  eminent creators or geniuses.

High C Creativity and Eminent Creativity

High C creativity or eminent creativity, including the realms of geniuses and eminent creators, involves a “unique reorganization of knowledge resulting in substantial new contributions to bodies of knowledge. Some rare human beings produce creative contributions that are so significant that they utterly transform a domain of knowledge” (Morelock & Feldman, p. 449).

Conclusion

Although we often limit our idea of creativity to geniuses and artists, creativity can be applied in almost any endeavor, relationship, hobby, career, cooking, vacation planning, homemaking, teaching, playing, inventing, scientific research, volunteering, running a business, or engaging in a change process. The creative process can assist with life transitions such as divorce, helping to build a new life out of the rubble of marriage. Knowledge of creativity can enhance healthy relationships between parents and children and improve the productivity of organizations.

Denita Benyshek, Ph.D., M.F.A.

This article is an excerpt from An Archival Exploration Comparing Contemporary Artists and Shamans (Benyshek, 2012).

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