Singapore University of Social Sciences

Psychology of Creativity

Psychology of Creativity (PSY355)

Synopsis

‘But what ... is it good for?’: This is what an engineer at IBM was purported to have said in 1968 about the microchip. Today, we can look back and rejoice in the creativity and innovativeness of the microchip, which has made possible the moon landing, the drafting of a TMA on a computer, and everything in between. The unity human beings experienced in witnessing the moon landing is similarly expressed today in our universal fascination with creativity. In this course, we talk about this favourite topic of ours. We ask questions like “Can rewarding someone make them more creative?” and “is there such a thing as a creative personality?” We examine the environment for antecedents of creativity. We critically analyse ways of measuring creativity. Finally, we work out how we can foster creativity in the classroom and in the workplace.

Level: 3
Credit Units: 5
Presentation Pattern: Every January
E-Learning: BLENDED - Learning is done ENTIRELY online using interactive study materials in Canvas. Students receive guidance and support from online instructors via discussion forums and emails. There are no face-to-face sessions. If the course has an exam component, this will be administered on-campus.

Topics

  • What is creativity?
  • Creativity: domain-specific or domain-general?
  • Measuring creativity
  • Divergent thinking, convergent thinking, and other creativity processes
  • Evaluating creative output
  • Individual differences and creativity
  • Motivation, rewards, and creativity
  • Leadership and Creativity
  • Creativity and technology
  • The environment and creativity
  • Creative problem solving
  • Fostering creativity in the classroom and the workplace

Learning Outcome

  • Compare different theories and approaches to creativity.
  • Examine key questions regarding creativity.
  • Analyze how the environment affects creativity.
  • Propose ways to measure creativity in different contexts.
  • Appraise different processes and stages of creativity
  • Recommend strategies to foster creativity at school and at work.
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