Operant Theories of Insight, Originality, and Creativity

Dados Bibliográficos

ID3758967
AutoresMark A Runco (0000-0002-5043-7900, California State University, Fullerton, autor correspondente)
Ano1993
Volume37
Fascículo1
Páginas54-67
Data de publicação1993-09-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoAmerican Behavioral Scientist (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0002-7642 • E-ISSN: 1552-3381
EditoraSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/0002764293037001006
OpenAlexW2159270988
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas10
Referências citadas49

There is no doubt that operant theory has contributed to our understanding of behaviors that are indicative of creativity, such as insight, novelty, and originality. The operant research that has been applied to these indicative behaviors is reviewed in this article. What exactly does this research tell us about creativity? To answer that, three issues must be explored. One of these concerns contingencies and intrinsic motivation. Can both contribute to creative performance? A second question concerns the role of originality. Indeed, the biggest challenge for an operant theory of creativity and discovery may be to explain behavioral variation. Operant theory must do so in order to explain originality and novelty, two of the key facets of creativity. How do new and original behaviors arise? A third question concerns insight. Operant research often focuses on insight, but what exactly does this tell us about creativity? As discussed in the article, there is some controversy about the actual role of insight in creative performances

Cognitive psychology · Creativity · Epistemology · Novelty · Operant conditioning · Originality · Creativity in Education and Neuroscience · Design Education and Practice · Philosophy · Psychology · Social Psychology