The scientific study of inspiration in the creative process: Challenges and opportunities
Inspiration is a motivational state that compels individuals to bring ideas into fruition. Creators have long argued that inspiration is important to the creative process, but until recently, scientists have not investigated this claim. In this article, we review challenges to the study of creative...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2014-06-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Human Neuroscience |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fnhum.2014.00436/full |
| _version_ | 1828471664748265472 |
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| author | Victoria C. Oleynick Todd M. Thrash Michael C. LeFew Emil G. Moldovan Paul D. Kieffaber |
| author_facet | Victoria C. Oleynick Todd M. Thrash Michael C. LeFew Emil G. Moldovan Paul D. Kieffaber |
| author_sort | Victoria C. Oleynick |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Inspiration is a motivational state that compels individuals to bring ideas into fruition. Creators have long argued that inspiration is important to the creative process, but until recently, scientists have not investigated this claim. In this article, we review challenges to the study of creative inspiration, as well as solutions to these challenges afforded by theoretical and empirical work on inspiration over the past decade. First, we discuss the problem of definitional ambiguity, which has been addressed through an integrative process of construct conceptualization. Second, we discuss the challenge of how to operationalize inspiration. This challenge has been overcome by the development and validation of the Inspiration Scale, which may be used to assess trait or state inspiration. Third, we address ambiguity regarding how inspiration differs from related concepts (creativity, insight, positive affect) by discussing discriminant validity. Next, we discuss the preconception that inspiration is less important than perspiration (effort), and we review empirical evidence that inspiration and effort both play important—but different—roles in the creative process. Finally, with many challenges overcome, we argue that the foundation is now set for a new generation of research focused on neural underpinnings. We discuss potential challenges to and opportunities for the neuroscientific study of inspiration. A better understanding of the biological basis of inspiration will illuminate the process through which creative ideas fire the soul, such that individuals are compelled to transform ideas into products and solutions that may benefit society. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T05:15:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-48f6d447aba54fefb537c48e4bf32628 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1662-5161 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T05:15:28Z |
| publishDate | 2014-06-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Human Neuroscience |
| spelling | doaj.art-48f6d447aba54fefb537c48e4bf326282022-12-22T01:19:49ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Human Neuroscience1662-51612014-06-01810.3389/fnhum.2014.0043695977The scientific study of inspiration in the creative process: Challenges and opportunitiesVictoria C. Oleynick0Todd M. Thrash1Michael C. LeFew2Emil G. Moldovan3Paul D. Kieffaber4College of William and MaryCollege of William and MaryCollege of William and MaryCollege of William and MaryCollege of William and MaryInspiration is a motivational state that compels individuals to bring ideas into fruition. Creators have long argued that inspiration is important to the creative process, but until recently, scientists have not investigated this claim. In this article, we review challenges to the study of creative inspiration, as well as solutions to these challenges afforded by theoretical and empirical work on inspiration over the past decade. First, we discuss the problem of definitional ambiguity, which has been addressed through an integrative process of construct conceptualization. Second, we discuss the challenge of how to operationalize inspiration. This challenge has been overcome by the development and validation of the Inspiration Scale, which may be used to assess trait or state inspiration. Third, we address ambiguity regarding how inspiration differs from related concepts (creativity, insight, positive affect) by discussing discriminant validity. Next, we discuss the preconception that inspiration is less important than perspiration (effort), and we review empirical evidence that inspiration and effort both play important—but different—roles in the creative process. Finally, with many challenges overcome, we argue that the foundation is now set for a new generation of research focused on neural underpinnings. We discuss potential challenges to and opportunities for the neuroscientific study of inspiration. A better understanding of the biological basis of inspiration will illuminate the process through which creative ideas fire the soul, such that individuals are compelled to transform ideas into products and solutions that may benefit society.http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fnhum.2014.00436/fullcreativityeffortinspirationInsightapproach motivation. |
| spellingShingle | Victoria C. Oleynick Todd M. Thrash Michael C. LeFew Emil G. Moldovan Paul D. Kieffaber The scientific study of inspiration in the creative process: Challenges and opportunities Frontiers in Human Neuroscience creativity effort inspiration Insight approach motivation. |
| title | The scientific study of inspiration in the creative process: Challenges and opportunities |
| title_full | The scientific study of inspiration in the creative process: Challenges and opportunities |
| title_fullStr | The scientific study of inspiration in the creative process: Challenges and opportunities |
| title_full_unstemmed | The scientific study of inspiration in the creative process: Challenges and opportunities |
| title_short | The scientific study of inspiration in the creative process: Challenges and opportunities |
| title_sort | scientific study of inspiration in the creative process challenges and opportunities |
| topic | creativity effort inspiration Insight approach motivation. |
| url | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fnhum.2014.00436/full |
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