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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...

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Autores principales: Oleynick, Victoria C., Thrash, Todd M., LeFew, Michael C., Moldovan, Emil G., Kieffaber, Paul D.
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: Frontiers Media S.A. 2014
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4070479/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25009483
http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2014.00436
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author Oleynick, Victoria C.
Thrash, Todd M.
LeFew, Michael C.
Moldovan, Emil G.
Kieffaber, Paul D.
author_facet Oleynick, Victoria C.
Thrash, Todd M.
LeFew, Michael C.
Moldovan, Emil G.
Kieffaber, Paul D.
author_sort Oleynick, Victoria C.
collection PubMed
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 (IS), 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.
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spelling pubmed-40704792014-07-09 The scientific study of inspiration in the creative process: challenges and opportunities Oleynick, Victoria C. Thrash, Todd M. LeFew, Michael C. Moldovan, Emil G. Kieffaber, Paul D. Front Hum Neurosci Neuroscience 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 (IS), 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. Frontiers Media S.A. 2014-06-25 /pmc/articles/PMC4070479/ /pubmed/25009483 http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2014.00436 Text en Copyright © 2014 Oleynick, Thrash, LeFew, Moldovan and Kieffaber. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
spellingShingle Neuroscience
Oleynick, Victoria C.
Thrash, Todd M.
LeFew, Michael C.
Moldovan, Emil G.
Kieffaber, Paul D.
The scientific study of inspiration in the creative process: challenges and opportunities
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 Neuroscience
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4070479/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25009483
http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2014.00436
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