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Application of Creativity Principles

to Occupational Therapy Practice

Francie Baxter, PhD, OT, FAOTA

Tina Fletcher, EdD, MFA, OTR

Brittney Burton, MOT student

1. Identify different theories of creativity, including terminology and definitions.

2.Explain ways that creativity theories can be applied to occupational therapy practice

3.Discuss how knowledge of aspects of different theories of creativity can impacts practice and patient intervention and outcomes.

After attending this seminar the participant will:

Overview:

Definitions, Concepts, History

• Creativity is any act, idea, or product that changes an existing domain, or that transforms an existing domain into a new one...What counts is whether the novelty he or she produces is accepted for inclusion in the domain.– from Creativity - Flow and the Psychology of Discovery

and Invention by M. Csikszentmihalyi (page 28)

• Creativity refers to the phenomenon whereby a person creates something new (a product, solution, artwork, literary work, joke, etc.) that has some kind of value.

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• “Creativity is the interaction between aptitude, process, and environment by which an individual or group produces a perceptible product that is novel and useful as defined within a social context” pg. 2

• From Essentials of Creativity Assessment by J.C.Kaufman

• “Creativity is the innate capacity to think and act in original ways, to be inventive, to be imaginative and to find new and original solutions to needs, problems, and forms of expressions. It can be used in all activities. Its processes and outcomes are meaningful to its user and generate positive feelings” pg 5

• From Promoting Health Through Creativity: T. Schmid

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Further Defined

•Creativity – eminent and exceptional accomplishments

• Creativity – everyday creativity

Runco & Richards 1997, p. ix

Characteristics of the creative personality:

• Creative individuals have a great deal of energy, but they are also often quiet and at rest.

• Creative individuals tend to be smart, yet also naive at the same time.

• Creative individuals have a combination of playfulness and discipline, or responsibility and irresponsibility.

• Creative individuals alternate between imagination and fantasy at one end, and a rooted sense of reality at the other.

• Creative people seem to harbor opposite tendencies on the continuum between extroversion and introversion.

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Creativity - Flow and the Psychology of Discovery and Inventionby Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (pages 58-73)

• Creative individuals are also remarkably humble and proud at the same time.

• Creative individuals to a certain extent escape rigid gender role stereotyping.

• Generally, creative people are thought to be rebellious and independent.

• Most creative persons are very passionate about their work, yet they can be extremely objective about it as well.

• The openness and sensitivity of creative individuals often exposes them to suffering pain yet also a great deal of enjoyment.

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Creativity - Flow and the Psychology of Discovery and Inventionby Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (pages 58-73)

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Four Stages of Creativity

• Preparation - the development of knowledge and skills required for the task. Preparation includes a basic predisposition or talent for the task, but knowledge, training and experience are also necessary for creative output.

• Incubation - a period of time when the notions, ideas, thinking are set aside. It is often noted that moments of insight come at a time of distraction or relaxation

• Illumination - the “aha!” moment, the moment of insight; often follows a period of incubation

• Verification – confirmation by the one creating as well as justification by the peer

Person Process

ProductPress

GuilfordMaslowTorranceRogersSkinner

Self-ExpressionFlow

Problem solving

Hierarchy of NeedsUnconditional acceptanceEnvironmental needs/support

Arts & CraftsIdeas

Innovation

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© Fletcher and Baxter 2012

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© Fletcher and Baxter 2012

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From: http://www.littlemummy.com/2009/11/16/what-motivates-us/

The Process: WICS Model

• Wisdom + Intelligence + Creativity Synthesized

• Creativity can be domain specific

• Creativity can be predicted by combinations of resources:– Intelligence

– The ability to switch between unconventional and conventional thinking

– Personality traits (abilities to tolerate ambiguity, thinking style, sensible risk taking)

– A supportive but not too comfortable environment

Principles of Creativity

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Sternberg: The more experience and exposure a person has, the more likely they are to become increasingly creative.

Amabile: When a person is intrinsically motivated to be creative, they will be.

Simonton: Hard times can lead to creative innovation. The more products or ideas that are generated, the more likely one is to be creative.

The concept/definition of creativity can be illusive

Creativity is mostly domain specific; often requires a foundation of knowledge; know the rules before breaking them

There is a difference between creativity and skill

We are naturally creative as children

Slumps and bumps along development

Creativity is a teachable and learnable skill that can be enhanced through practice

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Strategies to Learn CreativityIn your Life right now,

where do you play?

what are you passionate about?

What is your purpose?

Thinking about your answer to these questions, what does that say about your intrinsic motivation?

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“Yes And”Requires self-awareness, empathy and

redirection

Lateral vs. Vertical thinkingLateral thinking leads to conformity

Conformity leads to collaboration, forms cultural norms, saves energy

Natural tension between conformity and creativity

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Adaptors vs. InnovatorsAdaptors are detail oriented,

precise, reliable, predictable

Innovators focus on novelty, challenge assumptions, irreverent of consensual views.

Diverge vs ConvergeMany ideas vs. a few focused

ones.

Strike a balance between the two

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Creativity and Healing

Stress with resulting increases in cortisol has a deleterious effect on the body, mind and spirit.Stress increases catecholamines especially

norepinephrine

Prolonged increased norepinephrine causes biological damage

Engagement in creative activities requires or facilitates a decrease in norepinephrine

Artisans often reflect on their craft as their therapy

Creativity and Healthy Aging

“Expressing ourselves creatively can actually improve health, both mentally and physically. Creativity is a natural, vibrant force throughout our lives-a catalyst for growth, excitement and forging a meaningful legacy.”

•Cohen, Gene D., “Welcome to the Creative Age”, Bottom Line/Tomorrow Vol.9, #8 (Aug.2001)

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Incubation

Illumination

Verification

Preparation

Four Stages of Creativity

Corpus Callosum

Posterior Neocortex

Frontal LobesNMDA Channels

Holmholtz (1826) & Wallas (1926)

Form Follows Function

Cortical structures and processes are known to be different in persons defined as “creative”, e.g. Einstein.

Repetitive engagement in hobbies, rituals, creative activities has shown recognizable changes in cortical processes and structure

Persons with altered cognitive processes such as synesthesia are often identified as creative.

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Ramon y Cajal (1852-1934)

From: Advice for a Young Investigator,

“If a solution fails to appear…… and yet we feel success is just around the corner, try resting for a while. Several weeks of relaxation and quiet in the countryside bring calmness and clarity of the mind.”.

Disinhibition of the pre-frontal cortex

Creativity requires divergent and multiple brain processes, including activation of regions in both hemispheres

In a visual design task comparing novice and experienced graphic design students, creativity required

divergent brain activation multiple brain processes activation of regions in both

hemispheres

Red areas = novice groupGreen areas = expert groupYellow areas = both groupsBlue arrows = the left PFC and PC region.

Kowatari, Y., Lee, S. H., Yamamura, H., Nagamori, Y., Levy, P., Yamane, S., et al. (2009). Neural networks involved in artistic creativity. Human Brain Mapping, 30(5), 1678-1690.

Designing Task

Counting Task

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Clients

• 56 y.o. male two weeks post RCVA, with limited LUE function, Right dominant

• 15 y.o female on an inpatient cancer unit. Compromised immune system and decreased stamina

• 8 y.o. male with sensory processing disorder

• 32 y.o. female with in an acute care psychiatric unit with depression

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“Everything new is just an addition or modification to something that already existed.”

-Michael MichalkoAuthor of Thinkertoys

SCAMPERDeveloped by Alex Osborn and later arranged into the mnemonic we know today by Bob Eberle

A checklist of questions to guide creative idea generation in large quantities

What is SCAMPER?

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ScamperS SubstituteS

SubstituteS What can be

Who else? What else?

S

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CombineC CombineC

What ideas can be

What other items or articles can merge with this?

C AdaptA

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AdaptA What other process can be

What different contextscan I put this in?

A

ModifyM ModifyM

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What can be

How can this be changedfor the better?

M MagnifyM

MagnifyM What can be

How could I carry this toThe extreme?

M

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Put to other usesP Put to other usesP

How can this be

New ways to use this?

P Eliminate E

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EliminateE What can be

Subtract, Delete, Streamline,Condense, Compact?

E

RearrangeR RearrangeR

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What can be

What other arrangement might be better?

R ReverseR

ReverseR What can be

Do the unexpected?

R

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References

Coffee, M. S., Lamport, N. K., & Hersch, G. I. (2015). Creative Engagement in Occupation: Building Professional Skills. Thorafare, NJ: SLACK Incorporated.

Michalko, M. (2006). Thinkertoys: A Handbook on creative-thinking Techniques (2nd ed.). NY: Ten Speed Press.

SCAMPER

Clients

• 56 y.o. male two weeks post RCVA, with limited LUE function, Right dominant

• 15 y.o female on an inpatient cancer unit. Compromised immune system and decreased stamina

• 8 y.o. male with sensory processing disorder

• 32 y.o. female with in an acute care psychiatric unit with depression

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Implications for the Occupational Therapist

• Creative therapists maximize resources

• Creative therapists think of multiple solutions

• Creative therapists stay engaged and interested

• Creative therapists seek novel but relevant solutions to complex problems

• Creative therapists are less likely to burn out

• Use research-based creativity enhancement strategies:

• Diversity and volume produce greater chances for creative outcomes.

• Creativity requires processing time. Allow for it with minimal interference. Encourage it.

• Don’t be afraid of manageable stress.

• Find others who value creativity.

Final Thoughts