The article reviews the literature on two questions: what is the normal course of creative development, and do peak periods exist during which people are most open to efforts to foster creative abilities. Six specific periods are identified as peak periods of creative growth. (DB)

This article, third in a series, discusses the last three phases of the creative problem solving process: idea-finding, solution-finding, and acceptance-finding. These phases focus on brainstorming to generate possibilities and alternatives to the problem, evaluating each idea's strengths and limitations, prioritizing the solutions, and developing…

Publications administrators can freshen stale publications by updating vision, methods, and attitude. Ways to avoid the staleness trap include: critique work systematically, pick the right boss, look at the best work around the country, staff with young people, etc. (MLW)

Sociodrama is presented as a structured, yet flexible, method of encouraging the use of creative thinking to examine a difficult problem. An example illustrates the steps involved in putting sociodrama into action. Production techniques useful in sociodrama include the soliloquy, double, role reversal, magic shop, unity of opposites, and audience…

An interactionist model of creative behavior is proposed, combining elements of the personality, cognitive, and social psychology perspectives on creativity. The model considers the interplay of factors including antecedent conditions, creative behavior, consequences, the individual, cognitive style/ability, personality traits, contextual…

Individual stylistic variations of creative potential and conceptual tempo were investigated in 61 preschool children. No differences between reflective and impulsive preschoolers were found on the ideational fluency measure. Conceptual tempo scores revealed greater originality scores for the fast/accurate and slow/inaccurate groups compared to…

Discusses some parameters that account for changing assumptions about novelty across disciplinary communities. Argues that many of the insights required in a parameterized theory of newness have not yet made their way into theories of rhetoric or written composition. (MS)

This article examines images of the future as visualized by space artists and design engineers. In excerpts from interviews, the artists describe their activities and their use of computer-aided design. The article concludes that visual thinking plays a large part in translating the dreams of visionaries into reality. (JDD)

Recounts a personal experience as a first grader to illustrate the point that teachers must remember to encourage rather than stifle students' creativity. (NH)

Describes the Future Problem Solving Program, in which students from the U.S. and around the world are tackling some complex challenges facing society, ranging from acid rain to terrorism. The program uses a creative problem solving process developed for business and industry. A sixth-grade toxic waste cleanup project illustrates the process.…

Research is reviewed on identifying the characteristics most important to inventive ability, focusing on intelligence, visualization, persistence, joy in manipulating materials, originality, curiosity, and observation. A screening device developed to assess inventive potential demonstrated significant differences between inventors and…

Uses a case-study approach to examine the role of belief as a catalytic quality in the artistic making and the thinking processes used by children. Describes the processes encountered by children when presented with artistic tasks. Discusses the relationship between belief and the three other main dimensions of artistic thinking and making: social…

The research investigated what characteristics distinguish high ability/learning disabled (LD) intermediate grade students from average ability LD and high ability students. High ability/LD students were more creative than average LD students but cause the most classroom disturbance and perceive themselves as less efficacious in academic tasks.…

The concepts evolving from chaos theory can help clinicians identify patterns in family interactions that are critical for transformations to occur. This article explores a specific case example from such a perspective. Observation of how suicidal behavior becomes part of a pattern of family interaction offers a framework for clinicians to observe…

Discusses the passionate philosophy of Robert Alexander, founder and director of living stage theater company and his views of art, creativity, the entire process of learning, politics, philosophy, and hope. Presents several excerpts from Alexander's presentations for artists and teachers during Living Stage residencies in cities around the…