The Psychology of Creating: A Cultural-Developmental Approach to Key Dichotomies Within Creativity Studies

Abstract

This chapter outlines a general framework for a future psychology of creating. This framework is grounded in a cultural and developmental conception of creativity as action and responds to key dichotomies within the field of creativity studies, namely that between individual and social, potential and achievement, idea generation and idea implementation, creativity beliefs, and creative practice. These dichotomies enhance, on the surface, conceptual clarity but their unreflective use contributes to a partial view of creative action. In order to gain a more holistic understanding of what it means to create, an alternative research agenda is proposed, consisting of perspectives (action orientations), affordances (action potentials), trajectories (action paths), and representations (action meanings). Each of these is discussed in turn and final reflections are offered regarding the conceptual, methodological, and practical implications of cultivating a focus on creating rather than creativity.