ERIC Number: EJ1458614
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025
Pages: 12
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1040-0419
EISSN: EISSN-1532-6934
Available Date: N/A
The Mr. Plumbean Approach: How Focusing Constraints Anchor Creativity
Creativity Research Journal, v37 n1 p44-55 2025
Integrating research from cognitive, social, organizational, and developmental psychology, the present article builds on the idea that constraints play a key role in creativity. The Mr. Plumbean approach, which refers to the willing integration of focusing constraints for creative purposes, emphasizes the role of attitude toward constraints in creativity, the interactive nature of constraints, and the solution constraints provide to the issue of combinatorial explosion. The approach is used to: (a) highlight the generative value of constraints for creativity; (b) advance a distinction between epistemic and experiential anchors, corresponding to different sources of focusing constraints; (c) propose that not all constraints have the same effect on creativity; and (d) provide a guiding structure for future research. In addition to theoretical implications, the proposed conceptualization of constraints as sources of creativity and inspiration triggers has important practical applications, which are discussed throughout the article.
Descriptors: Creativity, Diversity, Interdisciplinary Approach, Social Behavior, Creative Development, Creative Thinking, Social Science Research, Cognitive Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Social Psychology, Industrial Psychology
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A