Defining Creativity: Don't We Also Need to Define What Is <i>Not</i> Creative?

TLDR

The paper argues that defining creativity requires simultaneously defining what is not creative. The author proposes a multiplicative model of personal creativity c = (1‑p)u(1‑v) based on originality, utility, and surprise, and enumerates seven noncreative alternatives illustrated by the two‑string problem. The model shows that creativity peaks when originality, utility, and surprise are maximal, identifies seven ways it can be minimized, and suggests that omitting surprise collapses the definition to four outcomes, highlighting implications for creative processes.

Abstract

Abstract I argue that any attempt to define creative ideas cannot fully succeed without also defining uncreative ideas. This argument begins by defining three parameters that characterize a potentially creative thought: the idea's initial probability ( p ), the final utility ( u ), and the creator's prior knowledge of that utility ( v ). The three parameters then lead to a three‐criterion multiplicative definition of personal creativity , namely, c = (1 − p ) u (1 − v ), where the first factor indicates originality and the third factor surprise . Although creativity can only maximize as originality, utility, and surprise all approach unity, the same definition indicates that there are seven different ways that creativity can minimize. These alternatives were identified as (a) routine, reproductive, or habitual ideas, (b) fortuitous response bias, (c) irrational perseveration, (d) problem finding, (e) rational suppression, (f) irrational suppression, and (g) blissful ignorance. If the third parameter v is omitted, then the number of creative and noncreative outcomes reduces to just four, making creativity indistinguishable from irrational suppression. The alternative outcomes are then illustrated using the classic two‐string problem. Besides providing a more finely differentiated conception of creativity failures, the definition has critical implications regarding the processes and procedures required to generate highly creative ideas.