PSY3355.

001—Psychology of Creativity—Fall 2009

Green Hall, 4.204, Tuesdays & Thursdays 2:30- 3:45 PM

Instructor Contact Information

Dr. Magdalena Grohman
Office: GR 2.410
Phone number TBA; Email: mggrohman@utdallas.edu
Office hours: Tuesdays 11:00 – 12:00 pm; Thursdays 1:00 – 2:00 pm or by appointment

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Course Description:
The course examines creativity from four main perspectives: product that meets criteria for being creative; process that leads to conceiving of a creative
product, person that is capable of engaging in such process, and people that form social context for creativity. We will discuss main theories and research in
psychology of creativity. On top of that, during some of the class meetings we will learn how to use certain mental tools, with the aim of developing richer
and more flexible mental strategies in creative thinking.
Student Learning Objectives:
After completing the course, students should be able to:
• Describe and explain the nature of creativity from the stand point of psychology.
• Describe and analyze major theoretical perspectives in the area of psychology of creativity.
• Identify and explain different research methods used in the creativity research.
• Identify and explain major dilemmas/controversies in the area of creativity research.
• Apply main concepts of creativity and creative thinking to issues in everyday life.
Required Textbook and Materials:
Kaufman, J. C. (2009). Creativity 101. The Psych Series. New York: Springer Publishing Company (available at University Bookstore)
Root-Bernstein, R. & Root-Bernstein, M. (1999). Sparks of Genius. The 13 Thinking Tools if the World’s Most Creative People. Boston: A Mariner Book Houghton
Mifflin Company (available at www.amazon.com).
The above texts will be supplemented with various required book chapters and journal articles. They will be available via WebCT. You are required to
download, print and read the readings prior to the class.
In addition to the text you will also need:
- A notebook (81/2 x 11), containing 80 or more lined or blank pages
- 3 x 5 Index cards for 1 minute evaluation essays
Exams, Assignments, Evaluation
Class Attendance and Participation (10%)
Class attendance and participation is a crucial component of learning process. When you attend and when you actively engage in class activities you process
new information in at least four ways: you listen, you take notes, you ask questions, and while discussing a given subject, you paraphrase what you have just
heard. All of the above increases the odds of understanding and remembering the material covered in class. That’s why I expect you to attend class and to
participate in class discussions and exercises.
You are responsible for all material covered in class. You can miss two classes - no questions asked. Note, however, that the attendance on days of exams,
when projects are assigned and described, and when assignments are due to be presented is mandatory.
At the end of each class I will be assigning points to students who were active and who made a significant contribution to discussion (quality of remarks
rather than quantity). If after a class, you feel as though you contributed to the discussion, write your name on a piece of paper and hand it to me on your
way out. In addition to that, at the end of each class you will write 1 minute essay on various aspects of the class (“the muddiest point”, “my favorite part”,
and the like). The quality of those short essays will tell how attentive you were during the class.
For each class that you just attended you will get 1 pt; for each class that you attended and participated you will get 2 pts (max. pts. 50).
Journal (15%)
You will need to keep a journal, in which you will record your reflections and questions relevant to course readings and activities. You will need to bring this
journal to each class. I expect you to have at least one one-page long entry devoted to each class. A single entry should include a brief summery of course
reading, your questions and/or reflections relevant to that reading, as well as questions and reflections relevant to the activities in the class. By the end of the
semester you should have at least 25 entries.
I will randomly collect the journals throughout the semester. If you do not bring your journal to class the day they are collected, you will not receive credit
for your entries. Altogether, these journals are worth a total of 50 points.
Projects (15%)
You can choose one of the three project options. Choose one of the projects and decide if you want to write a 5-8pp paper on the project or if you want to
present it during the class. If you want to present it, decide if you want to present it alone or with someone else. I will generally expect better presentations
from groups of two or three people than from just one person. Once you choose your topic, and decide on your presentation mode (paper or presentation,
individual or in a group), I expect you to discuss the project with me at least one week before the project proposal is due. A handout with specific
requirements for the project proposal and final project description will be distributed during the class, and posted on WebCT.
Option # 1 Invent a creative thinking tool
Create a tool that can be used to help enhance creative thinking. Present it to some people, discuss with them what they think, and write down their
reflections. Give a 5-8 min. presentation of the tool, in which you include the tool goals (what exactly it enhances), the tool description, instructions, and
what others thought. Show how it works during presentation. This tool must be unlike any of the tools or techniques that you will see in this class. The main
purpose of this new tool or technique must be to help enhance your own creativity or the creativity of others.
Option # 2: Write a test
Create a test or subtest of creativity. Give it to some people and discuss with them what they think. In your presentation describe the process of creating the
test, what people thought, its strengths and weakness, and any data results you might have.
Option # 2: Pick a topic
Pick a topic related to creativity and do a brief literature review, using at least six articles (PsychInfo is a very good resource). In your presentation discuss the
topic, discuss what researchers have found, and discuss what work needs to be done to advance the area you have chosen to review.
Paper (20%)
You will write a 2 – 6 pp paper, in which you will need to synthesize class readings, discussions and activities into a coherent and scholarly discussion of a
topic related to creativity. Your creativity is strongly encouraged! Think of your own topic. For those of you who need some jump start, I will have a list of
topics. A handout with specific requirements for the paper will be distributed during the class. It will be also posted on WebCT.
Exams (20% each)
We will have two non-cumulative exams based on the lectures, discussions and readings. The exams may include multiple choice and short answer essay
questions. Answer Forms: Exam System II, Form 229630
Grade distribution
Attendance & Participation – 10%
Journal – 15%
Project – 15 %
Paper – 20 %
Exam I – 20 %
Exam II – 20 %
Course & Instructor Policies
• I like having discussions, I like when questions are being asked, I like when people show that they care about what they have chosen to learn about, so
be as much engaged in classroom activities as you can.
• I don’t like and I don’t believe in multitasking. In my opinion it hurts our attention. So, no laptops, ringing cell phones, or pagers, chatting, messaging
during class, unless you have cleared it with me first.
• Last but not least. An exam is just another opportunity to learn. So DON'T MISS AN EXAM! Make-up exams will be given only if: (a) you were
seriously ill and have verifiable documentation from a physician, or (b) you were detained the day and time of the exam, or (c) you made
arrangements prior to the exam to attend an urgent family affair (e.g., funeral). In any of these cases, you must notify one of the instructor in
advance of the scheduled time of the exam (email or leave a voice-mail message if you can do nothing else). Otherwise, you will receive an F. It is
the student's responsibility to make sure that an exam is made up within one week of the scheduled time. Beware, make-up exams are
designed to be more comprehensive to compensate for having more study time.
 These descriptions and timelines are subject to change at the discretion of the Instructor.
Date Topic Reading
INTRODUCTION
Aug 20 Breaking the ice: Goals, expectations, assignments and such
Aug 25 Introduction to psychology of creativity: Can it be science at all? Kaufman chapter 1
Aug 27 Definitions, dilemmas, 4P
CREATIVE PRODUCT
Sept 1 Is this creative? Evaluation dilemmas Kaufman chapter 2/product
Sept 3 Rating creative products
CREATIVE PROCESS
Sept 8 Stages, cycles, interactions - the history of theories and research Kaufman chapter 2/process
Sept 10 Creative cognition approach Additional reading
Sept 15 Divergent thinking, convergent thinking, creative thinking/Paper proposal due Additional reading
Sept 17 Insight and problem solving Additional reading
CREATIVE PERSON
Sept 22 Emotions: positive and negative affect Additional reading
Sept 24 Intrinsic and extrinsic motivation Kaufman chapter 4/motivation
Sept 29 Intellect, intelligence, personality Kaufman chapter 2/person &
4/personality
Oct 1 Madness. The dark side Kaufman chapter 5
Oct 6 EXAM I
METHODS & MEASURMENT
Oct 8 Who do we study? “C” vs. “c” dilemma Kaufman chapter 2
Oct 13 How do we measure creativity Additional reading
ENHANCING CREATIVITY
Oct 15 Group creativity vs. individual creativity/Project proposal due Root-Bernstein chapters TBA
Oct 20 Creative thinking tools I
Oct 22 Creative thinking tools II
Oct 27 Creative problem solving techniques I
Oct 29 Creative problem solving techniques II
Nov 3 Can creativity be enhanced? Discussion
SOCIAL CONTEXT OF CREATIVITY
Nov 5 Creative environment Kaufman chapter 2/creative
environment
Nov 10 Confluence approaches to creativity Additional reading
Nov 12 Culture, ethnicity and gender Kaufman chapter 6
OTHER ISSUES
Nov 17 Can Einstein be Picasso? Domain general or domain specific? Kaufman chapter 3
Nov 19 Artistic creativity vs. Scientific creativity Additional reading
Nov 24 Project presentation/Paper due
Nov 26 TH ANKSGIVING RECESS
Dec 1 Project presentation
Dec 3 So, what is creativity and who’s creative? Review/Project description
due/Journals due
Dec 15 EXAM II
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