"Perspectives on the Social Psychology of Creativity" by Teresa M. Amabile and Julianna Pillemer

Summary

This document, "Perspectives on the Social Psychology of Creativity," traces the historical development and key ideas within this field. It highlights how the focus shifted from viewing creativity solely as an innate individual trait of "geniuses" to recognising the significant impact of social and environmental factors. The article emphasizes the Intrinsic Motivation Principle, proposing that internal drive for a task enhances creativity, while external motivators can hinder it. It also introduces the Componential Theory of Creativity, which integrates individual abilities with the influence of the social environment, and discusses measurement techniques like the consensual assessment technique (CAT). The authors conclude by suggesting future directions, advocating for a more interdisciplinary and comprehensive understanding of creativity in its social context.