Formation of Creative Personality Traits - Essay Example

Put a header Topic: Formation of Creative Personality Traits Insert Insert In today's world, Creativity is seen very essential to human attributes. The demand of 'being creative' at work or in class gains lot of appreciation and attention. Creativity can be natural or intentional but we all want to be creative and wonder what exactly flourishes it. Dacey & Lennon (1998) said, "The call to create has been built deep inside the creatures," (p.149) while quoting Barron (1995). The picture becomes wider when these theories take an account of few factors, which has major influences on it. These aspects are: the traits of creativity along with its form and outlets. The factors which stimulate facilitate or hinder its development (Magno,2008, p.2.)The two main perspectives, upon which all the theories of formation of creative personality are based: mental and social. Secondly, as the name indicates, human is the centre and focus of this theory. Personality (chapter 10) writes that, "Ultimate value is placed on dignity of person." The main theories discussed in this chapter, regarding the formation of creative personality are: psychoanalysis, mental illness, psychotism, addiction and humanistic theories. I believe psychotism, addiction and mental illness theories are very narrow and constricted. Psychoanalytical viewpoint focuses more "importance to art in the expression of the unconscious mind" (Magno, 2008, p.4) and "view a person as fairly passive, as a reactor to his or her life circumstances rather than an active agent" (Dacey & Lennon,1998, p.137.) The major contrast of the theories is differing themes of self, health, development and consciousness gives much smaller role to the unconscious drives. I consider individual as an active agent, who has all the control over his life and decisions and he deliberately, consciously and cognitively engages himself to be creative to meet the daily errands. So, I decide that Humanistic approach to the formation of creative personality convinces me more than other theories. Because I believe as Personality (chapter 10) writes that, "There is more to human existence than dealing with hidden conflicts." Once, creativity was considered close to madness. During the development of these theories, a time came where the creativity got linked with mental health of a person. Carl Jung gave birth to this link of mental health and creativity. Magno (2008) also touched this point and quoted Rollo May and Diamond, who believed that "creativity had an important role in healing and establishing genuine meaning in life." (p. 6.) The idea has evolved immensely and now creativity is linked with the healthy status of mind and "emotional well being" of a person. (Simonton, 2000, p.151.) Simonton (2008) also argued that the "psychological weakness can sometimes be converted into a form of optimal functioning" (p. 153.) In humanistic psychology, "to create is associated with human nature" wrote Magno (2008, p.3) and I utterly agree to this viewpoint. Dacey & Lennon (1998) explained this view point at its best by writing that," people are able to make active choices as they construct their lives" and they have the control and right to choose. (p.137) Creativity is essential to living and that is why each of us, at some point, is creative. Magno (2008) wrote, "All events of life can involve creativity." (p.13.) To stimulate creativity, we need to full fill its demands. Maslow's needs of hierarchy, puts "self-actualization and aesthetic needs" as the basis of creativity. (p.137.) I believe, while agreeing with humanistic approach that creativity is an on going process and develops through out the life span. The humanists see this development of creativity as occurring throughout life (Dacey & Lennon, 1998, p.147.) On the contrary, Psychoanalytical school of thought believed that the initial years of life are critical, "at the end of which creative ability becomes fixed" (Dacey & Lennon, 1998, p.151.) This view opposes the psychoanalytic view and got much attention and support, along with mine. Last but not the least point of persuasion of this theory is Rogers's contribution to this theory. Dacey & Lennon (1998) found that, "Openness to experience, faith in self-evaluations, and the ability to experiment and explore the possibilities of ambiguous situations were the primary characteristics of creative persons" (p.137.) Creativity should not benefit the person only but work on a greater scale; it should serve people and society. While quoting Arieti (1976, p. 413) Dacey & Lennon (1998) wrote that, "The growth occurs not only in the creative person but in all those who are affected by the innovation" (p.149.) On the other hand, society nourishes creativity. Simonton (2000) insisted that, "Creativity takes place in a social context"( p.154.) while quoting Harrington (1990).Magno (2008) wrote that "It is believed that it can be developed and changed through socialization"( p.10.) The environment plays an essential role in the development of creative traits, Simonton(2000) contributed that," by enriching the cultural environment, the ground may be laid for new creative synthesis"(p.155.) Magno, (2008) agreed with Weinberg (2007) who wrote that, "Creativity can be acquired and consolidated." (p.10.) Indeed, the effects of surroundings can either flourish or hinder its growth. Conclusion Creativity can be god gifted or build up. As we experience life, we feel indulging in creativity to meet its complexity. Sometimes creativity occurs naturally and other times we have to work intentionally towards it while striving for life. It keeps developing as we engage ourselves more with it. It also requires practice. It makes us effective for the sake of ourselves and society. Models for creativity need to be developed more effectively so that each of us can display "optimal functioning."(Simonton,2000,p.156) . References - Magno, C (2008). Explaining the creative mind. Retrieved from www.scribd.com/doc/7791764/Explaining-the-Creative-Mind Chapter 10: Personality. Retrieved from http://www.uwm.edu/jcm/psy101/chapter.10/chapter.10.personality.txt Dacey, J. S., & Lennon, K. H. (1998). Understanding Creativity. Sanfrancisco: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Simonton, D. (2000, January). Creativity: Cognitive, personal, developmental, and social aspects. American Psychologist, 55(1). 151-158. doi:10.1037/0003-066X.55.1.151 Read More