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Creativity is a very broad topic, but can applied to almost every aspect of life. Many people can argue over the definition of creativity, but most agree that it is a cognitive process. Experts recognize that it is almost impossible to measure the creativity of individuals. Professionals decided that everyone has had to use creativity at least some point in their lifetime, if not an ongoing, continuing process. Some reasons why humans are motivated to be creative include solving a problem or conveying an idea, principle, or opinion. According to Weisberg, “creativity involves an essentially ordinary cognitive process yielding extraordinary products” (Sternberg, 1999). In 1926, Graham Wallas came up with four stages of creativity. For example, the four stages can be used when trying to solve a problem. Creativity requires knowledge; the preparation stage is when the person researches or gains knowledge on a subject or problem. Incubation is to put the problem off to the side and move on to something else, hoping to take the mind off of it for a short period of time. Illumination is a sudden moment of wisdom, a light bulb that goes off in the brain, or an unexpected bright idea. Verification is when the person checks the answer or solution to make sure it is correct. The four stages can be used to solve a problem, write a paper, or draw a picture; basically anything that involves being creative or coming up with a unique solution. Creativity involves a thinking process that is different from the average or normal outcomes. Being creative means you are able to look at things in a new or different perspective. The question “why are certain people more creative in some topics and not in others?” of course depends on the person and the topic. “Creativity results from the interaction of a system composed of three elements: a culture that contains symbolic rules, a person who brings novelty into the symbolic domain, and a field of experts who recognize and validate the innovation. All three are necessary for a creative idea, product, or discovery to take place” (Csíkszentmihályi, 1996, page 6). Everyone is socialized differently, which makes us all unique. As humans, our cognitions, emotions, perceptions, and moods are specific to us as individuals. When there is a need to be creative, people have different ways of thinking. Someone might experience a light bulb moment, while someone else could have been thinking and concentrating for hours, another person could just be thinking as they go along with whatever is being worked on. Where creativity comes from varies from person to person. For example, an artist who favors a certain object might have many drawings of the same thing. The colors, angles, sizes, shapes or backgrounds, however, may differ. The way human beings think comes from distinct personal perceptions and life experiences. Creativity is a way to express who we are, what we have been through and what we feel. Certain aspects of his or her life can explain why people are more creative in certain topics. What triggers creativity? For example, a poet is having a mental block, what sparks his creativity to finish the poem? This topic is very relatable. Many people can connect with or know the feeling of having a mental block. Most of us have been just beginning or in the middle of a paper and our mind just goes blank. Where the spark to continue working comes from is hard to say, and once again, varies from person to person. Cognitively, our creativity comes from many different sources. “There is no single creative process; rather, creativity is the result of many types of mental processes working together” (Medin, 2005). This means that our brains are working heavily in order to come up with a creative idea. One solution to a mental block is to repeat the four steps. The second step, incubation, has been examined more thoroughly. Smith and Blankenship did a study in 1991, which suggested, “unconscious problem solving may occur while the mind is occupied with other things” (Medin, 2005). The researchers also looked at the idea that incubation may only work because the person solving the problem becomes focused on an incorrect approach to the problem. Another solution to sparking creativity is to view a paradigm to get the brain working. Studying an example or similar problem can initiate a solution to the current problem. There are many different activities a person can do to trigger creativity. Although they may not help with a specific problem, they can activate areas of the brain needed for problem solving and creativity. Every individual has their own way of thinking, own creativity, and own problem solving techniques. How each person comes to their solution reflects their own creativity. Creativity also equals originality, and in order to be original, one needs to be imaginative. Researchers find it hard to define, detect, and measure creativity. Some studies would suggest a child with a unique and wild imagination will grow up to be creative, if not already showing signs of distinct creativeness. Some scientists use biological reasons to explain creativity. “Perhaps one trait that facilitates creativity is a genetic predisposition. It makes sense that a person whose nervous system is more sensitive to color and light will have an advantage in becoming a painter, while someone born with a perfect pitch will do well in music. And being better at their respective domains, they will become more deeply interested in colors and sounds, will learn more about them, and thus are in a position to innovate art or music with greater ease” (Csíkszentmihályi, 1996, page 52). Although it is hard to identify, if a parent and child share the same creative elements, it is likely the child has a genetic predisposition. Exceptionally creative individuals are fascinating for their skills of adjusting to any situation or problem, and ability to improvise with whatever they have in order to produce a solution. Creativity can connect to almost every aspect of life. It is hard to define creativity, however, it is definitely a cognitive process. Creativity comes in during many of life’s every activities. Solving problems, making decisions, or conveying ideas are some areas where creativity is needed. Creativity is a way to express who we are, our individuality, and our emotions. Being creative is involved in coming up with original ideas, which will help a person to stand out in the workplace and personal life. Creativity is a major part of life that is still trying to be understood.

Works Cited Csíkszentmihályi, M. Creativity: Flow and the Psychology and of Discovery and Invention. New York, NY: HaperCOllins Publishers, 1996.

Medin, D, L., Ross, B and Markam, A.B. Cognitive Psychology. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, 2005. Print.

Sternberg, R.J. & Lubart, T.I. Handbook of Creativity. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 1999.