Fostering successful intellectual styles for creativity

Abstract

Intellectual styles refer to people’s preferred ways of processing information and dealing with tasks. Individuals who have a propensity for using a wide range of styles—always including creativity-generating styles—are said to possess successful intellectual styles. The author argues that teachers should and can encourage creativity among students by cultivating successful intellectual styles. To make this argument, the author first presents two main controversial issues over the nature of intellectual styles: style value and style malleability. She then cites research evidence revealing that creativity-generating intellectual styles are more adaptive than are norm-favoring styles; that the positive growth in some domains of student learning and development calls for successful intellectual styles; and that styles can be developed. Following this, the author points out the limitations of the existing research and suggests ways to overcome the limitations. Finally, the author proposes strategies that teachers could use in promoting creativity through fostering successful intellectual styles among students.