Exceptional Creativity: An Overview
Creativity is the ability to come up with new ideas and solutions to existing problems. It is a process that involves divergent thinking, the capacity to come up with unique and varied solutions to a problem. Exceptionally creative individuals are those who possess a greater capacity for divergent thinking and are able to generate more creative solutions to problems. This article will provide an overview of exceptional creativity, including its definition, its components, its measurement, and its implications.
Definition
Exceptional creativity is defined as the ability to generate novel, varied, and useful ideas (Kaufman & Sternberg, 2006). It is distinguished from ordinary creativity in its capacity for divergent thinking, the capacity to come up with multiple unique solutions to a problem (Kaufman & Sternberg, 2006). Exceptionally creative individuals are exceptionally good at divergent thinking, which allows them to generate more creative solutions to problems.
Components
Exceptional creativity consists of three components: divergent thinking, ideational fluency, and originality (Kaufman & Sternberg, 2006). Divergent thinking is the capacity to generate multiple unique solutions to a problem. Ideational fluency is the ability to generate a large quantity of ideas in a short amount of time. Originality is the capacity to generate ideas that are not only unique, but also useful.
Measurement
The most common measure of exceptional creativity is the Torrance Test of Creative Thinking (TTCT), which measures divergent thinking, ideational fluency, and originality (Torrance, 1988). The TTCT is composed of three subtests, each of which measures a different aspect of exceptional creativity. The first subtest measures divergent thinking, the second measures ideational fluency, and the third measures originality.
Implications
Exceptional creativity has far-reaching implications in both educational and professional settings. In educational settings, exceptionally creative individuals are more likely to be successful in problem-solving tasks and to come up with innovative solutions to complex problems (Kaufman & Sternberg, 2006). In professional settings, exceptionally creative individuals are more likely to be successful in their occupations, as they are able to generate more creative solutions to existing problems (Kaufman & Sternberg, 2006).
Conclusion
In conclusion, exceptional creativity is the ability to generate novel, varied, and useful ideas. It consists of three components: divergent thinking, ideational fluency, and originality. It is most commonly measured using the Torrance Test of Creative Thinking. Finally, exceptional creativity has implications in both educational and professional settings, as exceptionally creative individuals are more likely to be successful in problem-solving tasks and to come up with innovative solutions to complex problems.
References
Kaufman, J. C., & Sternberg, R. J. (2006). The international handbook of creativity. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
Torrance, E. P. (1988). Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking. Bensenville, IL: Scholastic Testing Service.