Domain-general versus Domain-specific Approach of Creativity: Arts, Science and Everyday Life

Doctoral thesis (2015)

The investigation of domain-specificity by means of structural models is undoubtedly one of the most contemporary subjects in creativity research. Whilst the dominant approach conceives creativity as a ... [more ▼]

The investigation of domain-specificity by means of structural models is undoubtedly one of the most contemporary subjects in creativity research. Whilst the dominant approach conceives creativity as a relatively general mental capacity, a more recent, and relatively underexplored approach, conceives creativity as domain-specific. Three major domains of creative expression are often distinguished: arts, science and everyday life (Batey & Furnham, 2006). The hybrid approach reconciles to some extent the domain-general and domain-specific paradigm, by allowing for domain-general, domain-specific and even task specific features (Lubart & Guignard, 2004). The present research explored this differential approach, which raises the question, in how far the cognitive and conative creative profiles, can be generalized. These were investigated in the domains of arts, science and everyday life. The artistic creative profile of architects was compared to the scientific creative profile of psychologists and the everyday creative profile of the general population. With this in mind the three test groups (architects, psychologists, general population), were subjected to a general creativity test. One population-specific creativity test was added within every sample. The differential approach of creativity, integrating both domain-general and domain-specific features, was confirmed. This doctoral dissertation allows for different creative profiles with regard to specific domains of creative expression to be established. It became clear that architects demonstrated the expected profile for scientific creativity, whilst psychologists demonstrated the expected profile for artistic creativity. As anticipated, the everyday creative profile was presented by people of the general population. It was characterized by openness to new experiences and, to a lesser extent, by intelligence. Presently, the image of the psychologically conflicted architect, sometimes projected by the literature (Barron, 1965, 1969; MacKinnon, 1961, 1962), could not be confirmed. This image was further associated with creative psychologists. Implications and limits of these results are discussed further below. [less ▲]

Creativity in Everyday Life: Potential, Activities, Achievement

Scientific Conference (2015)

Everyday creativity―also known as little c― includes various domains of creative expression in daily life, like i.e., the arts and sciences. The present intention is to analyze the profile of ordinary ... [more ▼]

Everyday creativity―also known as little c― includes various domains of creative expression in daily life, like i.e., the arts and sciences. The present intention is to analyze the profile of ordinary creators from the general population in various domains. The differential influence of intelligence and personality is explored. The hypothesized model aims to extend the one of Jauk, Benedek, and Neubauer (2014), by introducing further personality predictors. The sample consisted of 101 participants from the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg with a mean age of 35 years. Openness remained the only personality predictor in the structural model. In contrast to the model of Jauk et al. (2014), openness was more important for creative potential than for creative activities. Hence, the leading role of openness in the personality domain was confirmed and the model of Jauk et al. (2014) could not be extended by further personality predictors. Implications of this result will be discussed. [less ▲]

Creative Personality: The Importance of an Autonomous Working Style

in Creative Engagements: Thinking with Children, Prague 14-16 March 2014 (2014, March)

Creativity plays an important role in education and on the job market. In this perspective, the present study addresses the personality profile of creative people in specific domains of achievement ... [more ▼]

Creativity plays an important role in education and on the job market. In this perspective, the present study addresses the personality profile of creative people in specific domains of achievement. Literature on creativity is predominantly based on the analysis of psychology students, artists and scientists. The question which emerges from the current state of the art concerns the ability to generalize these findings. Hence, the current study examines additional professional subsamples in terms of their creative personality. The sample consists of 176 participants (109 women, 66 men, MAge = 24.47, SD = 3.52, age range: 19-39 years). In the general sample, only the correlation between creativity and autonomy was significant (r = .16, p < .05). In the sample of psychologists, this correlation was stronger (r = .57, p < .01). These results suggest the importance of fostering an autonomous working style. [less ▲]

Cultural differences in creativity: The role of immigration

in International Journal for Talent Development and Creativity (2014)

This study analyses the relationship between creativity and personality in different cultural contexts. A multivariate approach to creativity implies that personal and contextual characteristics influence ... [more ▼]

This study analyses the relationship between creativity and personality in different cultural contexts. A multivariate approach to creativity implies that personal and contextual characteristics influence creative performance. Is the relationship between creativity and personality the same in different cultural contexts? Within education the cultural factor might have more impact than in other environments because of assimilationism of migrant students. This study is carried out in London and the Greater Region of Luxembourg. The sample consists of 243 participants (199 women, 44 men, MAge = 20.35, SD = 1.56, age range: 18-32 years). Whereas the correlation between creativity and openness is positive for non-immigrants (European), it is negative for immigrants (non-European). This highly surprising exploratory result can be related to migration. A possible mediator between creativity and openness might be individual differences linked to migration, i.e. uncertainty avoidance. Implications of results will be discussed. [less ▲]

Multivariate Approach to Creativity: Cognition and Personality

Scientific Conference (2012, June)

Our study is founded on a multivariate approach to creativity. We analyze cognitive and personality variables in relationship to creative potential. The sample consists of 37 middle aged adults from the ... [more ▼]

Our study is founded on a multivariate approach to creativity. We analyze cognitive and personality variables in relationship to creative potential. The sample consists of 37 middle aged adults from the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg (20 women, 17 men, MAge = 41.03, SD = 7.23, age range: 29-55 years). Whereas ego-strength is positively related to creative potential, it is negatively related to psychoticism. We argue that in a population of academics psychoticism is not an essential condition for creative potential. It is rather the other side of the same coin. Ego-strength is some kind of moderator variable that determines which feature will be uncovered. We conceive that this ensues in three different forms of creativity. The first one relies on mental strength and emotional stability; the second one on emotional vulnerability and finally the third one arises from a confluence of both features. [less ▲]