Theories of the creative process--including psychoanalytic, Gestalt, association, perceptual, humanistic, cognitive-developmental, and composite theories--are summarized and a new one offered, based on studies of creative scientists' descriptions of their work.

Theories on the variability of creativity in individuals are discussed and related to the development of creativity in the classroom. (SBH)

Unique experiences of transcendental levels of awareness are examined relative to theories of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, Plato, and C. Jung; autobiographical reports by geniuses of their creative processes; correlations measured between transcendental experiences, physiological functioning creative ability; and the effect of these experiences on…

This paper explores connections between Kirton's Adaption-Innovation Theory of cognitive style and Koestler's bisociative theory of the creative act. The three Kirton factor/traits (sufficiency of originality, efficiency, and rule/group conformity) are integrated into Koestler's conceptual framework of the creative act which stresses the creation…

This article proposes that transcendence, the mystical nature of creativity, is not only sequential but a subset of the evolutionary process. Deliberate application of the principles of Darwin's theory is seen as speeding and improving the creative process for both individuals and groups. The importance to creative thinking of randomness processed…

This paper proposes the use of hypermedia as a design framework for creativity facilitation programs. It includes an overview of the major schools of thought in creativity, a review of fundamental concepts in hypertext and hypermedia, a discussion of design issues related to hypermedia-based creativity facilitation programs, and suggestions for…

This paper offers an extension of Graham Wallas' model of the creative process. It identifies periods of problem solving, incubation, and growth with specific points of initial idea inception, creative frustration, and illumination. Responses to creative frustration are described including denial, rationalization, acceptance of stagnation, and new…

Using tenets from Vedic science and quantum physics, this model of the creative process suggests that the unified field of creation is pure consciousness, and that the development of the creative process within individuals mirrors the creative process within the universe. Rational and supra-rational creative thinking techniques are also described.…

An unusual approach to the definition of creative behavior and the development of educational programs which encourage creativity. (Editor)

This paper proposes that, contrary to the idea that creativity declines during the second half of life, observed changes may actually reflect qualitative changes in the creative process. Life span developmental theory is used to examine empirical and theoretical ideas about mature forms of thinking in relation to creativity. (DB)

The contents of 67 college-level creativity course syllabi were analyzed. A theoretical framework emerged with five dimensions, including social climate, personality characteristics, models or theories, process involved, and product variables related to end results. (DB)

Reviews the perspective of Donald Campbell on creative thought and argues that the role of blind variation and selective retention in Darwinian evaluation and human invention is different. Proposes that a contrast can be drawn between "smart" and "not so smart" blind variation. (CR)

Argues that while blind variation and selective retention (BVSR) may not be involved in all forms of human behavior and thought, Donald Campbell has made a compelling case that human creativity and invention involve BVSR. The complementary nature of prior and current BVSR in creative human endeavor is discussed. (Author/CR)

This introductory article discusses a blind-variation and selective-retention model of the creative process developed by Donald Campbell. According to Campbell, creativity contains three conditions: a mechanism for introducing variation, a consistent selection process, and a mechanism for preserving and reproducing selected variations. (Author/CR)

Argues that the cognitive mechanisms in human creativity are, for the most part, sighted rather than blind. Reviews attempts to apply evolutionary ideas to psychology and argues that these ideas do not apply to the psychology of human creativity. An alternative sighted-variation framework is then proposed. (Author/CR)