Imagination Now

During the 19^th century, mathematician Adolphe Quetelet documented the waxing and waning of productivity among playwrights. Contemporary research confirms and extends Quetelet’s “inverted U curve” theory. For example, UC-Davis psychologist Dean Simonton argues that, after young professionals—who start out willing and eager for novelty—spend a few years immersed in the conventions of their fields, their work begins to tend toward “the same-old, same-old.” And research also tells us that it is becoming less and less likely for people in professions dependent on creativity—for example scientists and artists—to receive significant institutional and economic support early in their careers. What happens when the policies of “mature” institutions discourage innovative thinking? Author Jonah Lehrer discusses these trends and highlights a number of exciting programs that would seem to counter them in a Wall Street Journal article called “Fleeting Youth, Fading Creativity.” But hurry! Time for viewing Lehrer’s article is truly fleeting—this link will only function through Saturday, February 27^th.

Filed under: Link | Tagged: Adolphe Quetelet, creativity, Dean Simonton, Fleeting Youth Fading Creativity, innovation, institutions, Jonah Lehrer, research, science, thinking outside the box | Leave a Comment »