Creative Thinking

Creativity is among the most promising and optimistic aspects of the human experience; few constructs have the capacity to benefit people's experiences as comprehensively. This potential ranges from the very personal—arts-based therapeutic interventions, well-designed museum installations and programs—to the societal—educating more creative scientists, creating a national strategy to enhance the arts, producing unique solutions to diplomatic and military problems. Increasingly, our colleagues in other countries are seizing on the potential benefits of an increased focus on creativity, as are many of their ministries of education and culture (e.g., Kaufman & Sternberg, 2006). The question is not “In what areas can creativity be useful?” but rather “How does creativity apply in each and every area?”

Keywords: creativity; thinking; thinking styles; divergent thinking; giftedness