Creativity

Creativity refers to the ability to generate ideas, solutions, or products that are both novel and useful within a given context. It involves a balance between originality and usefulness, and it can manifest in thought, work, or social practice. Creativity occurs across individuals, groups, and organizations and spans domains such as the arts, sciences, engineering, business, and everyday problem solving.

Cognitive components include knowledge of a domain, flexibility in thinking, and motivation. Many accounts emphasize divergent thinking—the production of many potential ideas—and convergent thinking—the evaluation and refinement of ideas into workable solutions. Creative work often proceeds through phases such as preparation, incubation, illumination, and verification.

Measurement and evaluation of creativity are varied. Tests of divergent thinking assess fluency and originality, but real-world creativity is often appraised by the consensual assessment technique or by impact within a field. Creativity can be cultivated through deliberate practice, exposure to diverse domains, collaborative work, and supportive environments that manage risk rather than suppress it.

Context and culture shape what is considered creative. Domain knowledge, resources, social norms, and incentives influence both creative output and its reception. Barriers include fear of failure, cognitive fixedness, and excessive conformity, while enablers include autonomy, curiosity, and constructive feedback.

The study of creativity integrates psychology, neuroscience, education, and design. It is central to innovation, cultural production, and scientific progress, influencing how individuals approach problems and how organizations structure teams and processes.