Towards a New Theory for Towards a New Theory for CreativityCreativity

In Arab World In Arab World

Amman – Jordan (November 16-Amman – Jordan (November 16-17, 2013)17, 2013)

Prof. Dr. Qassim Hussein Prof. Dr. Qassim Hussein SalihSalih

Head of Iraqi Psychological Head of Iraqi Psychological

AssociationAssociation

..

Problematic concepts of Problematic concepts of creativitycreativity

Creativity has more than 20 definitionsCreativity has more than 20 definitions

* The ability to make human products and ideas * The ability to make human products and ideas (such as symphonies or solutions to social (such as symphonies or solutions to social problems) that are both novel and valued by problems) that are both novel and valued by others.others.

* The generation of ideas that are original, novel, and * The generation of ideas that are original, novel, and useful.useful.

*The ability to think about something in novel and *The ability to think about something in novel and unusual and come up with unique solutions to unusual and come up with unique solutions to problems.problems.

*A cognitive process that leads to the production of *A cognitive process that leads to the production of something that is both original and worthwhile.something that is both original and worthwhile.

* * Creativity thinking skills include the ability to Creativity thinking skills include the ability to turn thingsturn things over in your mind ,like trying to make over in your mind ,like trying to make the strange familiar and the familiar strange.the strange familiar and the familiar strange.

+ Question: How can we possibly define creativity + Question: How can we possibly define creativity as a single construct that unifies the work of as a single construct that unifies the work of Leonardo da Vince of Vincent Van Gogh and Isaac Leonardo da Vince of Vincent Van Gogh and Isaac Newton of Albert Einstein, and of Mosart and Newton of Albert Einstein, and of Mosart and Nicolaus Copernicus?Nicolaus Copernicus?

* * We suggest the following definition:We suggest the following definition: Creativity is a cognitive mental process, Creativity is a cognitive mental process,

regardless whether it relies on conscious regardless whether it relies on conscious or unconscious, characterized by smart or unconscious, characterized by smart beautiful thinking leads to product beautiful thinking leads to product deserves value and importance ,adding to deserves value and importance ,adding to knowledge something new in its knowledge something new in its specialization field stimulates pleasure specialization field stimulates pleasure and surprise.and surprise.

IDEASIDEAS + + Intelligence and creativity are not the same Intelligence and creativity are not the same

thing .Although most creativething .Although most creative people are quite people are quite intelligent; the reverse is not necessary true. Many intelligent; the reverse is not necessary true. Many highly intelligent people are not very creative.highly intelligent people are not very creative.

+ Creativity in applied sciences (physics, A) differs + Creativity in applied sciences (physics, A) differs from social sciences (psychology...) and arts (B).from social sciences (psychology...) and arts (B).

-In (A): its more objective, logical, convergent, -In (A): its more objective, logical, convergent, wheres in (B) its more subjective, emotive, and wheres in (B) its more subjective, emotive, and divergent. divergent.

+ Flexible beliefs and broadly accepting attitudes + Flexible beliefs and broadly accepting attitudes

toward other cultures, other races, and other toward other cultures, other races, and other religions creeds enhance creativity.religions creeds enhance creativity.

+ We can not study creativity by isolating individuals + We can not study creativity by isolating individuals and their works from the social and historical and their works from the social and historical milieu in which their actions are carried out. milieu in which their actions are carried out.

Creativity TheoriesCreativity Theories The paper covered 14 theories: The paper covered 14 theories:

Freud,Jung,Gestalt,Pavlov,.. to the last oneFreud,Jung,Gestalt,Pavlov,.. to the last one & Freud , da Vinci, and Dali:& Freud , da Vinci, and Dali: Because of its emphasis on symbolic and Because of its emphasis on symbolic and

unconscious though, psychoanalytic theory has unconscious though, psychoanalytic theory has been extensively applied to art and literature.been extensively applied to art and literature.

- The psychoanalytic formula is that creative work - The psychoanalytic formula is that creative work of art satisfy unconscious wishes, because these of art satisfy unconscious wishes, because these wishes are often unacceptable, they have to be wishes are often unacceptable, they have to be disgused.Artistic techniques are used for this disgused.Artistic techniques are used for this purpose.(da Vinci was a man of extreme sexual purpose.(da Vinci was a man of extreme sexual inhibition brought about by castration anxiety. inhibition brought about by castration anxiety. da Vinci channeled his sexual energy into da Vinci channeled his sexual energy into creating the Mona Lisa. Freud believed that the creating the Mona Lisa. Freud believed that the Mona Lisa's mysterious smile was the smile of Mona Lisa's mysterious smile was the smile of Leonardo's mother.Leonardo's mother.

Although psychologists and art critics debateAlthough psychologists and art critics debate whether many works of art unconsciously whether many works of art unconsciously based, there is general agreement that based, there is general agreement that twenties-century art movement known as twenties-century art movement known as Surrealists saw Freud's concept of the Surrealists saw Freud's concept of the unconscious mind as the true source of unconscious mind as the true source of untainted creativity.(Rene Magritte and untainted creativity.(Rene Magritte and Salvador Dali are two of the best known Salvador Dali are two of the best known Surrealist artists. Surrealist artists.

& Guilford has used two concepts:& Guilford has used two concepts:

-Convergent thinking: Thinking that is logical -Convergent thinking: Thinking that is logical and conventional and that focuses on a and conventional and that focuses on a problem until a solution is found.( produces problem until a solution is found.( produces one correct answer.)one correct answer.)

Divergent thinking: Thinking that is Divergent thinking: Thinking that is loosely organized, only partially loosely organized, only partially directed, and unconventional. It directed, and unconventional. It produces answers that must be produces answers that must be evaluated subjectively .(produces many evaluated subjectively .(produces many answers to the same question).answers to the same question).

{Architects need to use divergent {Architects need to use divergent thinking whenthinking when creating the design creating the design and convergent thinking to be sure and convergent thinking to be sure the building is structurally sound}the building is structurally sound}

& Sternberg theory: Three – Facet & Sternberg theory: Three – Facet Model of Creativity: There are three Model of Creativity: There are three mental processes regard creativity: mental processes regard creativity: Metacognition components, its Metacognition components, its function to define the problem and function to define the problem and formulate strategy to solve it. formulate strategy to solve it. Performance components to execute Performance components to execute it. And acquired knowledge it. And acquired knowledge (insight).(insight).

Comments:Comments: Theory means a coherent set of interrelated Theory means a coherent set of interrelated

ideas that helps to make predictions and ideas that helps to make predictions and explain data.explain data. Or Or a statement of some a statement of some general principles that explain a general principles that explain a phenomenon or a set of phenomena.phenomenon or a set of phenomena.

--We reached a conclusion that no certain We reached a conclusion that no certain theory provided comprehensive theory provided comprehensive interpretation to “creativity” concept. interpretation to “creativity” concept.

-Because Arab intellectuals and their honest -Because Arab intellectuals and their honest politicians believe that the future of the politicians believe that the future of the State is fundamentally depend on its own State is fundamentally depend on its own talented and creative citizens, thus it is talented and creative citizens, thus it is essential to take this matter seriously and essential to take this matter seriously and find newfind new ways to hunt our future.ways to hunt our future.

NEW SUGGESTED APPROACHNEW SUGGESTED APPROACH• There are 4 determinisms regrd There are 4 determinisms regrd

interpretation behavior: Psychological, interpretation behavior: Psychological, environmental, biological, and environmental, biological, and socialculutral.socialculutral.

We consider “creativity” is a human activity We consider “creativity” is a human activity which is processed and created rationally which is processed and created rationally through the brain software, which may through the brain software, which may occur under three conditions:occur under three conditions:

biological composition, sort and quantity of biological composition, sort and quantity of stimulus and characteristics of the stimulus and characteristics of the intellectual outputs.intellectual outputs.

- That means multiple individuals and - That means multiple individuals and environmental factorsenvironmental factors

must converge for creativity to occur. must converge for creativity to occur.

* Social change in most Arab countries is * Social change in most Arab countries is arbitrary. Creativity achieved inarbitrary. Creativity achieved in

healthy social context and planned social healthy social context and planned social change not arbitrary one and that could be change not arbitrary one and that could be accomplished if the following conditions accomplished if the following conditions taken into our consideration:taken into our consideration:

1.  Fairness; in applying legislations: education 1.  Fairness; in applying legislations: education

is the right for every child and so it is the is the right for every child and so it is the governments duty to facilitate the necessity governments duty to facilitate the necessity for this issue and to provide help to ensure for this issue and to provide help to ensure that every one will have this right of the that every one will have this right of the chance for education in Arab world.chance for education in Arab world.

- The first legislation for Arab authorities to - The first legislation for Arab authorities to issue is the compulsory education system issue is the compulsory education system (between ages 6-16 years(between ages 6-16 years

- The second legislation to accompany - The second legislation to accompany the compulsory education is the the compulsory education is the National Curriculum for education National Curriculum for education with open windows to modern with open windows to modern education in the world.education in the world.

2.       Equality; by giving each 2.       Equality; by giving each individual similar opportunity. individual similar opportunity. Education should be for all and all Education should be for all and all have equal opportunities regardless of have equal opportunities regardless of race, religion, health and ability. race, religion, health and ability.

3.   Freedom; in thinking, expression 3.   Freedom; in thinking, expression and behavior.and behavior.

ARAB FAMILYARAB FAMILY

Family should involve in Family should involve in exploring and developing exploring and developing creativity in their children, but creativity in their children, but most of Arab families are still most of Arab families are still use traditional socialization. The use traditional socialization. The most important for their children most important for their children are to pass the exams which are to pass the exams which depend on memory not on depend on memory not on critical thinking. critical thinking.

Arab Schools-Arab Schools-SuggestionsSuggestions

Most of Arab schools are still classic Most of Arab schools are still classic and not have profile of gifted pupils. We and not have profile of gifted pupils. We suggest the following checklist of suggest the following checklist of characteristics:characteristics:

- high mathematical- high mathematical

- alert curiosity- alert curiosity

- Independence of action - Independence of action

- initiative, anxious to do new things- initiative, anxious to do new things

- imagination in thinking- imagination in thinking

- fluency in non-verbal communication- fluency in non-verbal communication

SuggestionsSuggestions -2 -2

-Varied interests -Varied interests

- learning quickly through - learning quickly through experienceexperience

- Mature sense of humor - Mature sense of humor

- originality and creativity in - originality and creativity in thinkingthinking

- Showing desire to learn in daily - Showing desire to learn in daily workwork

– – Showing relationships among Showing relationships among apparently unrelated ideas.apparently unrelated ideas.

Arab Educational SystemsArab Educational Systems

The school essential function is to The school essential function is to establish creative readiness, but establish creative readiness, but Arabs schools, in general, have not Arabs schools, in general, have not received their attention.received their attention.

Most of Arab students from primary Most of Arab students from primary to University are passive observers.to University are passive observers.

Most of Arab Educational Systems Most of Arab Educational Systems provided children with passive provided children with passive stimulus; no climate for dialogue or stimulus; no climate for dialogue or critical approach which is essential critical approach which is essential for creativity.for creativity.

This means looking carefully to This means looking carefully to renew curriculum, teaching style, renew curriculum, teaching style, classroom organization, classroom organization, technology of education and well technology of education and well qualified teachers in order to cope qualified teachers in order to cope with an increasingly dynamic with an increasingly dynamic world.world.

Thus these educational systems Thus these educational systems need real coup to clear out the out need real coup to clear out the out of date curriculum and teaching of date curriculum and teaching methods.methods.

IRAQ !!!IRAQ !!! Iraq is the only Arab-Asian country expose Iraq is the only Arab-Asian country expose

over the last twenty years to a systematic over the last twenty years to a systematic unprecedented wave of brain drain (1991-unprecedented wave of brain drain (1991-2013).2013).

After 2003 over 600 Iraqi intellectual had After 2003 over 600 Iraqi intellectual had been killed and more than four thousands been killed and more than four thousands academicians and researchers left Iraq.academicians and researchers left Iraq.

We politely asking the conference to We politely asking the conference to issue special statement in favor of issue special statement in favor of maintaining the Iraqi intellectuals and maintaining the Iraqi intellectuals and calling back the scattered Iraqi brain to calling back the scattered Iraqi brain to contribute with others to rebuild their contribute with others to rebuild their devastated country.devastated country.

HOPEHOPE The change winds of Arab Spring that The change winds of Arab Spring that

overwhelming Arab world since January overwhelming Arab world since January 2011 cold open the doors widely for 2011 cold open the doors widely for creativity , intellectuality, democracy and creativity , intellectuality, democracy and pease as expected,but the wind goes in pease as expected,but the wind goes in the opposite direction.This because arab the opposite direction.This because arab enviroment was repellent to creativity for enviroment was repellent to creativity for more than thound years!.more than thound years!.

Although.. believers in creativity still hold Although.. believers in creativity still hold the hope!!the hope!!

THANK YOUTHANK YOU