Models of the Creative Process: Past, Present and Future

TLDR

The creative process, defined as the sequence of thoughts and actions leading to novel, adaptive productions, raises key questions about how it differs from noncreative processes and how these differences affect creative performance. This article reviews conceptions of the creative process over the past century and identifies new directions for future research. Stage‑based models of the creative process are examined, tracing their evolution over time. Empirical research indicates that the basic four‑stage model of the creative process may need revision or replacement.

Abstract

The creative process, one of the key topics discussed in Guilford's (1950) address to the American Psychological Association and his subsequent work, refers to the sequence of thoughts and actions that leads to novel, adaptive productions. This article examines conceptions of the creative process that have been advocated during the past century. In particular, stage-based models of the creative process are discussed and the evolution of these models is traced. Empirical research suggests that the basic 4-stage model of the creative process may need to be revised or replaced. Several key questions about the creative process are raised, such as how the creative process differs from the noncreative process and how process-related differences may lead to different levels of creative performance. New directions for future research are identified.