Finding Meaning With Creativity in the Past, Present, and Future

Kaufman, James C.

doi:10.1177/1745691618771981

Cited by 109 publications

(67 citation statements)

References 164 publications

(191 reference statements)

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“…In addition to such possibilities as family or spiritual beliefs, one way is through creative activity. As Kaufman [38] suggests, there are many ways that creativity can help people find meaning in life. Writing narratives or memoirs, creating art, or finding a unique creative passion may help someone make sense of their own life [39], experience joy in the present moment [40], manage existential worries about death [41], and leave a legacy for future generations [42].…”

Section: Changing the World In New Waysmentioning

confidence: 99%

Creativity as a Stepping Stone toward a Brighter Future

Kaufman

2018

J. Intell.

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If IQs continue to rise over generation, why has the world been unable to solve basic recurrent problems? This paper argues that creativity, which is overlooked in IQ tests and showing no signs of a similar increase, may be part of the reason of why the Flynn Effect has not led to a better world. Creativity’s predictive power for traditional positive outcomes, such as school or work performance, is significant but slight. However, there are other ways that creativity can help to make a better world. Two exemplar ways that are discussed in this paper are how creativity can (a) help people lead happier and more meaningful lives and (b) focus a spotlight on talented members of underrepresented groups who are overlooked by traditional measures. Both of these directions can lead to a world that is better equipped to solve larger issues.

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Section: Changing the World In New Waysmentioning

confidence: 99%

Creativity as a Stepping Stone toward a Brighter Future

Kaufman

2018

J. Intell.

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“…Meaning maintenance model maintains that there are four domains that are relevant to meaning maintenance: the needs for self-esteem, certainty, belongingness, and symbolic immortality (Heine et al, 2006). These core concepts in meaning maintenance can be reached through creative activities to enhance self-esteem, restore certainty, re-establish belongingness and remind one of life's joy (Kaufman, 2018). Creativity involves the development of a novel product, idea, or problem solution that is valuable to the individual and/or the larger social group (Hennessey and Amabile, 2010).…”

Section: Introduction Backgroundmentioning

confidence: 99%

Novelty Seeking and Mental Health in Chinese University Students Before, During, and After the COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown: A Longitudinal Study

Miller

et al. 2020

Front. Psychol.

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COVID-19 has created significant concern surrounding the impact of pandemic lockdown on mental health. While the pandemic lockdown can be distressing, times of crisis can also provide people with the opportunity to think divergently and explore different activities. Novelty seeking, where individuals explore novel and unfamiliarly stimuli and environments, may enhance the creativity of individuals to solve problems in a way that allows them to adjust their emotional responses to stressful situations. This study employs a longitudinal design to investigate changes in novelty seeking and mental health outcomes (namely, stress, anxiety, and depression) before, during, and after COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, among a group of students (final N = 173; Mage = 19.81; SDage = 0.98; 135 females and 38 males) from a university in southeast China. Participants were surveyed at three points: November, 2019 (prior to the COVID-19 pandemic); between February and March, 2020 (during the peak of the pandemic and intense lockdown in China); and between May and June, 2020 (after lockdown had been lifted in China). Cross-sectionally, correlation analysis indicated that greater novelty seeking was associated with lower levels of stress, anxiety, and depression at all three time points. Univariate latent curve modeling (LCM) indicated a growth trajectory in which novelty seeking increased over time and then remained high during the post-lockdown period. Stress, anxiety, and depression all showed V-shaped growth trajectories in which these variables decreased during lockdown, before increasing in the post-lockdown period. Multivariate LCM indicated the growth trajectory for novelty seeking was associated with the growth trajectories for stress, anxiety, and depression. This suggests that the observed decreases in stress, anxiety, and depression during the lockdown period may be attributable to the sample’s observed increase in novelty seeking. These findings are valuable in that they challenge the notion that lockdown measures are inherently detrimental to mental health. The findings indicate the important role of novelty seeking in responding to crises. It may be possible for future public health measures to incorporate the promotion of novelty seeking to help individuals’ respond to stressful situations and maintain good mental health in the face of crises.

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“…In our study, positive experiences such as seeing new opportunities, breaking up from unsatisfactory marital relationships, and realizing dreams were interpreted as being linked to the Creativity dimension. Creativity theorists like Kaufman 31 also emphasize the potential positive outcomes of creativity across one’s life span. He also discusses the reciprocal relationships between creativity and experiences of meaning in life.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Use of the model of Inner Strength for analysing reflective interviews in a group of healthy middle-aged adults

2019

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Objective: Inner Strength has been described as a human resource that promotes well-being linked to health. The aim of this study was to explore how Inner Strength and its four dimensions are manifested in interviews in a group of middle-aged healthy women and men. Methods: Retrospective reflective interviews with middle-aged healthy women (n = 5) and men (n = 4) selected from a population study were content analysed deductively. Results: The following themes and their constituents were found in the respective dimensions of the Model of Inner Strength. Firmness: having a drive to act, being purposeful, having trust in one’s competence, and having a positive view of life. Connectedness: being in community, receiving and giving support, and, receiving and giving care. Creativity: changing unsatisfactory life situations, seeing new opportunities, and realizing dreams. Stretchability: balancing between options, and extending oneself. Conclusions: Expressions that were interpreted as belonging to Inner Strength could be referred the different dimensions of Inner Strength. The Model of Inner Strength is suitable for analysing Inner Strength among middle-aged men and women. The findings indicate that Inner Strength can be identified in human beings’ narratives if asked for.

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Finding Meaning With Creativity in the Past, Present, and Future

Cited by 109 publications

References 164 publications

Creativity as a Stepping Stone toward a Brighter Future

Creativity as a Stepping Stone toward a Brighter Future

Novelty Seeking and Mental Health in Chinese University Students Before, During, and After the COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown: A Longitudinal Study

Use of the model of Inner Strength for analysing reflective interviews in a group of healthy middle-aged adults

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