Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Person: Personality, Affect, and Inventiveness

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
The Handbook of Creativity & Innovation in Business

  • 2161 Accesses

Abstract

Personality refers to the characteristics of the person that account for consistent patterns of feelings, thinking, and behaving, that distinguishes one person from another and persist over time. Personality has conspicuous impact on creative intelligence (CiQ) and individuals’ success (or failure) in developing new ideas and translating those novel, original ideas into appropriate, valuable actions or artefacts. There is an extensive body of knowledge on the impact of personality traits on creative intentions (motivations), inventions (enacting or executing ideas) and how these traits interact with the creative teams and processes that occurs at work. It is important to note right at the outset that creative personalities vary greatly between domains and disciplines. A further key concept readers will quickly arrive at, is that there not one single identifying personality trait for creative genii. Also, no personality traits should be regarded as predictive of performance (either at work or at play), without considering the wider context or the specific situation (i.e., the other Ps in six Ps of creative intelligence).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    In this book, “creatives” as term is used as collective noun for people who are considered by others, or self-defines, as being highly or at least moderately creative.

  2. 2.

    Several years ago Professor March pointed out that rational choice involves two guesses, a guess about uncertain future consequences and a guess about uncertain future preferences, and called for the development of a technology of foolishness.

References

  1. Mayer JD. Asserting the definition of personality. Online Newsletter for Personality Science. 2007;

    Google Scholar 

  2. Pervin LA, Cervone D, John OP. Personality : theory and research. 9th ed. Hoboken: Hoboken; 2005.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Helson R. Creativity in women: inner and outer views over time. In: Runco MA, Albert RS, editors. Theories of creativity. Newbury Park: Sage; 1990.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Phares EJ. Introduction to personality. 2nd ed. Glenview: Scott, Foresman & Co.; 1986.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Larsen RJ, Buss DM. Personality psychology: Domains of knowledge about human nature. 2nd ed. New York: McGraw Hill; 2005.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Amabile TM. Social psychology of creativity: a consensual assessment technique. J Pers Soc Psychol. 1982;43(5):997.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Runco MA, Albert RS. The reliability and validity of ideational originality in the divergent thinking of academically gifted and nongifted children. Educ Psychol Meas. 1985;45(3):483–501.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Sawyer RK. Explaining creativity: the science of human innovation. New York: Oxford University Press; 2012. 555 p.

    Google Scholar 

  9. MacKinon DW. What makes a person creative? In: MacKinnon DW, editor. In search of human effectiveness. NY: Universe Books; 1978. p. 178–86.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Rubin Z. Does personality really changes after 20? 1982.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Runco MA. Creativity theory and themes: research development and practice. Burlington: Elsevier Academic Press; 2007.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Feist G. A meta-analysis for personality in scientific and artistic creativity. Personal Soc Psychol Rev. 1998;4(2):290–304.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Batey M, Furnham A. Creativity, intelligence, and personality: a critical review of the scattered literature. Genet Soc Gen Psychol Monogr. 2006;132(4):355–429.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. King LA, Walker LM, Broyles SJ. Creative and the five-factor model. J Res Pers. 1996;30(2):189–203.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Soldz S, Vaillant GE. The big five personality traits and the life course: a 45 year longitudinal study. J Res Pers. 1999;33(2):208–32.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Furnham A, Crump J, Batey M. Personality and ability predictors of the “consequences” test of divergent thinking in a large non-student sample. Pers Individ Differ. 2009;46(4):536–40.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. McCrae RR. Creativity, divergent thinking and openness to experience. J Pers Soc Psychol. 1987;52(6):1258–65.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Silvia PJ, Martin C, Nusbaum EC. A snapshot of creativity: evaluating a quick and simple method for assessing divergent thinking. Think Skills Creat. 2009;4(2):79–85.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Csikszentmihalyi M. The domain of creativity. In: Runco MA, Albert RS, editors. Theories on creativity. London: Sage Publications; 1990. p. 190–212.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Simon RS. Junging types and creativity of professional fine Artists. United States International University United States International University. 1979;

    Google Scholar 

  21. Bachtold LM, Werner EE. Personality characteristics of creative women. Percept Mot Skills. 1973;36(1):311–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Hirsh JB, Peterson JB. Predicting creativity and academic success with a “fake-proof” measure of the Big Five. J Res Pers. 2008;42(5):1323–33.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Maslow AH. Creativity in self-actualizing people. Toward a Psychology of Being. New York: Nostrand Reunhold; 1968. p. 135–45.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Maslow AH. Self-actualizing person: a study of good psychological health. Motivation and personality. 2nd ed. Harper Row: New York, NY; 1970.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Smith GW, Van Meer G. Perception and creativity. In: Runco MA, editor. Creativity research handbook, vol. 1. Hampton: Cresskill, NJ; 1997.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Runco MA. Motivation, competence and creativity. In: Elliott A, Dweck C, editors. Handbook of achievement motivation and competence. New York: Guilford Press; 2005. p. 609–23.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Gardner H. Creating minds: an anatomy of creativity seen through the lives of Freud, Einstein, Picasso, Stravinsky, Eliot, Graham and Gandhi. New York: Basic Books; 1993.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Smolucha F. The relevance of Vygotsky’s theory of creative imagination for contemporary research on play. Creat Res J. 1992;5(1):69–76.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Garvey C. Play. Cambridge: Harvard University Press; 1990.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Russ SW. Play and creativity: developmental issues. Scand J Educ Res. 2003;47(3):291–303.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Sansanwal S. Pretend play enhances creativity and imagination. Research Gate. 2014:70–83.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Sawyer RK, Csikszentmihalyi M, John-Steiner V, Moran S, Feldman DH, Gardner H, et al. Creativity and development. Oxford University Press; 2003.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  33. Dansky JL. Play. In: Runco MA, Pritzker SR, editors. Encyclopedia of creativity. New York: Academic Press; 1999. p. 393–408.

    Google Scholar 

  34. Dodgson M, Gann DM, Phillips N. Organizational learning and the technology of foolishness: the case of virtual worlds at IBM. Organ Sci. 2013;24(5):1358–76.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Jacobs CD, Statler M. Toward a technology of foolishness: developing scenarios through serious play. Int Stud Manage Org. 2006;36(3):77–92.

    Google Scholar 

  36. Pink D. A whole new mind: why right-brainers will rule the future. Penguin Group: New York, NY; 2006.

    Google Scholar 

  37. Russ SW. Emotion and affect. In: Runco MA, Pritzker S, editors. Encyclopedia of creativity, vol. 1. San Diego: Academic Press; 1999. p. 659–77.

    Google Scholar 

  38. Runco MA. Problem finding, problem solving and creativity. Norwood: Ablex Publishing Corporation; 1994.

    Google Scholar 

  39. Russ SW. Affect and creativity: the role of affect and play in the creative process. Psychology Press; 1993.

    Google Scholar 

  40. May R. The courage to create. New York: Norton; 1969.

    Google Scholar 

  41. MacKinnon D. Personality and the realization of creative potential. Am Psychol. 1965;20(4):273.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Bandura A, Pastorelli C, Barbaranelli C, Caparara GV. Self-efficacy pathways to childhood depression. J Pers Soc Psychol. 1999;76:258–69.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Beverborg AOG, Sleegers PJC, Veen KV. Promoting VET teachers’ individual and social learning activities: the empowering and purposeful role of transformational leadership, interdependence, and self-efficacy. Empir Res Vocat Educ Train. 2015;7(5)

    Google Scholar 

  44. Maguire LN. A measure of self-efficacy among agency directors to offer nutrition education to low country food brand clients. ProQuest: Clemson University; 2011.

    Google Scholar 

  45. Usher EL, Pajares F. Source of self-efficacy in mathematics: a validation study. Contemp Educ Psychol. 2009;34:89–101.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. Abbott DH. Experiencing creative self-efficacy: a case study approach to understand creativity in blogging. J Med Commun Stud. 2010;2(8):170–5.

    Google Scholar 

  47. Wu M, Siswanto I, Ko C. The influential factors and hierarchical structure of college students’ creative capabilities—an empirical study in Taiwan. Think Skills Creat. 2017;26:176–85.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  48. Kitching J, Cassidy S, Eachus P, Hogg P. Creating and validating self-efficacy scales for students. Radiologic Technology by the American Society of Radiologic Technologies. 2011;83(1)

    Google Scholar 

  49. Linde JA, Rothman AJ, Baldwin AS, Jefferey RW. The impact of self-efficacy on behavior change and weight change among overweight participants in a weight loss trial. Health Psychol. 2006;25(3):282–91.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  50. Young CA, Mills RJ, Woolmore J, Hawkins CP, Tenant A. The multidimensional self-efficacy scale for MS(USE-MS): developing a patient based and patient reported outcome. Mult Scler J. 2012;18(9):1326–33.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  51. Schwartz S. The hidden path to creativity. TEDxOrcasisland. 2020;

    Google Scholar 

  52. Rauch A, Frese M. Let’s put the person back into entrepreneurship research: a meta-analysis on the relationship between business owners' personality traits, business creation, and success. Eur J Work Organ Psy. 2007;16(4):353–85.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  53. Arendt LA. Leaders’ use of positive humor: effects on followers’ self-efficacy and creative performance. University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee; 2006.

    Google Scholar 

  54. Tierney P, Farmer SM. Creative self-efficacy development and creative performance over time. J Appl Psychol. 2011;96(2):277–93.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  55. Dollinger SJ, Urban KK, James TA. Creativity and openness: further validation of two creative product measures. Creat Res J. 2004;16(1):35–47.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  56. Kaufman JC. Self-reported differences in creativity by ethnicity and gender. Appl Cogn Psychol. 2006;20:1065–82.

    Google Scholar 

  57. Kwang NA, Rodrigues D. A Big-Five Personality profile of the adaptor and innovator. J Creat Behav. 2002;36(4):254–68.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  58. Wolfradt U, Pretz JE. Individual differences in creativity: personality, story writing and hobbies. Eur J Personal. 2001;15(4):297–310.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  59. Helson R. Institute of personality assessment and research. In: Runco MASP, editor. Encyclopedia of creativity. San Diego: Academic; 1999. p. 71–9.

    Google Scholar 

  60. Merriam-Webster. Available from: https://www.merriam-webster.com/

  61. Marques HG, Holland O. Architectures for functional imagination. Neurocomputing. 2009;72(4–6):743–59.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  62. Beaney M. Imagination and creativity. Milton Keynes: Open University; 2005.

    Google Scholar 

  63. Liang C, Hsu Y, Chang CC, Lin LJ. In search of an index of imagination for virtual experience designers. Int J Educ. 2012;11(3):366–74.

    Google Scholar 

  64. Lin WS, Hsu Y, Liang C. The mediator effects of conceiving imagination on academic performance of design students. Int J Technol Design Educ. 2014;24(73–89)

    Google Scholar 

  65. Folkmann MN. Enabling Creativity: Imagination in design processes. 2010.

    Google Scholar 

  66. Gaut B. Creativity and imagination. In: Gaut B, Livingston P, editors. The creation of art. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press; 2003. p. 148–73.

    Google Scholar 

  67. Heath G. Exploring the imagination of establish frameworks for learning. Stud Philos Educ. 2008;27(2):115–23.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  68. Vygotsky LS. Imagination and creativity in childhood. J Russ East Eur Psychol. 2004;42(1):7–97.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  69. Bruner JS. Actual minds, possible worlds. Harvard University Press; 2009.

    Google Scholar 

  70. Epstein S. Cognitive-experiential self theory: implications for developmental psychology. 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  71. Tversky A, Kahneman D. Judgment under uncertainty: heuristics and biases. Science. 1974;185(4157):1124–31.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  72. Epstein S. Cognitive-experiential self-theory of personality. In: Weiner IB, Millon T, Lerner MJ, editors. HANDBOOK of PSYCHOLOGY, vol. 5. Hoboken: Wiley; 2003. p. 159–84.

    Google Scholar 

  73. Tsai KC. Play, imagination, and creativity: a brief literature review. J Educ Learn. 2012;1(2):15–20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  74. Raphael-Leff J. The “dreamer” by daylight: imaginative play, creativity, and generative identity. Psychoanal Study Child. 2009;64(1):14–53.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  75. Singer JL. Imagination. In: Runco MA, Pritzker S, editors. Encyclopedia of creativity. San Diego: Academic; 1999.

    Google Scholar 

  76. Baars BJ. In the theatre of consciousness. Global workspace theory, a rigorous scientific theory of consciousness. J Conscious Stud. 1997;4(4):292–309.

    Google Scholar 

  77. Baars BJ. A cognitive theory of consciousness. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press; 1988.

    Google Scholar 

  78. Baars BJ, Franklin S. An architectural model of conscious and unconscious brain functions: Global Workspace Theory and IDA. Neural Netw. 2007;20(9):955–61.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  79. Harman SA. Attention, absorption and habit: the Stanislavski System reexamined as a cognitive process using the “Theatre of Consciousness” model of Bernard Baars. 2010.

    Google Scholar 

  80. May R. The courage to create. New York: Norton; 1994.

    Google Scholar 

  81. Amabile TM. Motivating creativity in organizations: on doing what you love and loving what you do. Calif Manag Rev. 1997;40(1):39–58.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  82. Amabile TM. How to kill creativity. Harv Bus Rev. 1998;87:77–87.

    Google Scholar 

  83. Amabile TM. Componential theory of creativity. Harvard Business School. 2012;12(96):1–10.

    Google Scholar 

  84. Amabile TM, Pratt MG. The dynamic componential model of creativity and innovation in organizations: making progress, making meaning. Res Organ Behav. 2016;36:157–83.

    Google Scholar 

  85. Amabile TM. Creativity in context: update to the social psychology of creativity. Routledge; 2018.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  86. Simonton DK. More method in the mad-genius controversy: a historiometric study of 204 historic creators. Psychol Aesthet Creat Arts. 2014;8(1):53.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  87. Stepanossova O, Grigerenko EL. Creativity in Soviet_Russian psychology. In: Kaufman JC, Sternber RJ, editors. The international handbook of creativity. New York: Cambridge University Press; 2006. p. 235–69.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  88. Torrance EP. Guiding creative talent. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall; 1962.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  89. Barron F. The need for order and disorder as motives for creative activity. In: TC W, Barron F, editors. It’s recognition and development. New York: Wiley; 1963.

    Google Scholar 

  90. Barron F, Welsh GS. Artistic perception as a possible factor in personality style: its measure by figure preference test. J Psychol. 1952;33:192–203.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  91. Wagner M. What’s your creative type? Harness the power of your artistic personality. New York: Seal Press; 2017.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand

    Rouxelle de Villiers

Authors
  1. Rouxelle de Villiers
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rouxelle de Villiers .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand

    Rouxelle de Villiers

CREATiViTY LABORatory

CREATiViTY LABORatory

1.1 Activity I: As Easy as ABC

Try to solve this puzzle, using your own frames of reference. There is no right or wrong answer, but only your own creativity. Try to imagine or construe at least 9 answers. Ask someone in another discipline what they think the answers might be. Consider their perspective and ask yourself what prevented you from seeing that solution OR what knowledge and experiences helped you to see the same possible solutions.

  • If ABC goes to ABD, then what does XYZ go to?

1.2 Activity II: What Is Your Creative Style?

Meta Wagner [91] identifies five creative types in her book What’s your creative type: harness the power of your artistic personality. We list them below. We add a few of the identifiers Meta Wagner uses to allow you to determine your own likely style. Pick as many types as you think are applicable to you, even if only vaguely. What do you think people of your personality type do when they hit a snag, hear creativity squelchers or face setbacks? Use the table to consider what you might take from the other styles (those you did not tick for yourself), and how their coping or survival mechanisms might help you to achieve your full potential. Use the space below the style to make some suggestions to yourself and to propose a set of actions to make this intention reality (Table 8.3).

Table 8.3 AII Find your Inner Genii
Full size table

Possible answers provided by other participants and M Wagner [91] are: XY1, XY, XYD, WYZ, XYaa, XYi (i as imaginary number); the next key on your mobile phone?

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2022 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

de Villiers, R. (2022). Person: Personality, Affect, and Inventiveness. In: de Villiers, R. (eds) The Handbook of Creativity & Innovation in Business. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-2180-3_8

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation