In order to quickly generate a large number of original responses requires high levels of cognitive control, including the ability to inhibit irrelevant thoughts, quickly update the current contents of working memory, and flexibly switch attention from one aspect of the problem to another. Those with higher levels of cognitive control do tend to score higher on IQ tests, tend to more quickly generate a larger number of original responses on tests of creative cognition, and also tend to perform better on standardized tests of academic achievement. But as this study suggests, they do not tend to have more real-world creative accomplishments. Real-world creative achievement is influenced by many factors operating on a much longer timescale, including motivation, inspiration, drive, persistence, love, opportunity, social support, and resources. In the long-run, it’s the quality of creativity that is more conducive to real-world creative achievement than the ability to quickly come up with responses in an artificial, laboratory setting, with a clock counting down and a stranger telling you to “Be creative!”. It also makes sense that psychopathology spectrum traits were not associated with the sheer fluency and originality of creative cognition. Many mental disorders, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, are associated with reduced cognitive control. Zabelina and colleagues have found in their research that while on-the-spot, timed creative cognition is associated with the ability to focus attention, real-life creative achievement is associated with the ability to broaden attention and have a “leaky” mental filter. In other words, perhaps the very same characteristics that may hinder performance on IQ tests and standardized academic tests (e.g., broad attention, impulsivity, daydreaming, and fantasy-proneness) are the very same characteristics that increase the chances of real-life creative achievement. Further research should investigate this intriguing possibility. - Scott Barry Kaufman, Ph. D.
Posted on: Mon, 29 Sep 2014 15:46:33 +0000
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