History of Psychology
Blend of diligent research and Accidental discoveries Researchers surprised by findings Shift their thinking. Historians of science call these Paradigm shifts
Ivan Pavlov
1849-1936 Nobel prize in 1904 for studies on the digestive system Classical conditioning Learned reflex
Ivan Pavlov
Research during Russian Revolution Inner lab insulated from noise. Assistant bringing in food had to ring bell. Dogs started to salivate before food entered room. Hmmm.. Whats going on?
After Conditioning
CS (tone)
CR (salivation)
Behaviorism
John B. Watson
>Impressed by Pavlovs work >Good model for experimentation >psychology as objective science
Serendipity
Accidental fortunate discoveries The Three Princes of Serendip Persian princes who stumble into a fortune due to their discoveries. Find a maiden in the forest. Take her to nearest castle where she is greeted as missing princess. Receive huge reward for her safe return.
Example 1: Cockleburs
The story of the discovery of hook and loop fasteners begins with George de Mestral taking a walk through the countryside. The Swiss engineer enjoyed hunting. One morning in 1941, while returning from the fields with his dog, he noticed how difficult it was to detach the flowers of the mountain thistle from his trousers and his dogs fur.
Invention?
Redesigning Neighborhoods
Most towns have been modified to adapt to cars. Wider streets laid out in grids. Home distant from work. New design more friendly to bikes and pedestrians than to cars.
Neo-traditional
Traditional neighborhoods are more compact communities designed to encourage bicycling and walking for short trips by providing destinations close to home and work, and by providing sidewalks and a pleasant environment for walking and biking. These neighborhoods are reminiscent of 18th and 19th century American and European towns, along with modern considerations for the automobile.
Measures of creativity
Want to recognize and nurture creativity. Gifted and talented programs. Need to develop valid measures. Creativity is a subjective quality. General agreement among experts and public.
Word Associations
Cue word: moon Free responses: unique are better. Or see associations: Cue words: mouse, blue, cottage Single response associated with all three?
Mosaic Designs
http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/jo/mosaic/index.htm
Unusual Uses
Give subject a common object. Shoe lace Get points for unusual, practical uses.
Productive thinking
Victims of convention
Easier and more comfortable Less risky Routine can become a rut. Fail to see possibilities. Land of steady habits.
Creative People
Maslow in study of self-actualizers. Many very creative people. Characteristics: broad interests, like complexity, high energy, like to work, high achievement, independent, confident. Can tolerate conflict Open to new experiences.
Fostering creativity
Families place high value on intellectual development. Allow more independence. Open to letting children experience new things. Foster development of selfesteem.
Csikszentmihalyi on creativity
Creativity as the result of interaction between the individual, the domain, and the field. Domain is set of symbolic rules and procedures. Examples: Mathematics, music, experimental methods. Masters the domain, know how to do the craft. Studies all that went before him/her in domain. Person cannot be creative in a domain to which he or she is not exposed. Child could have great gift for mathematics but still needs to learn the rules in order to contribute to the domain.
Field
Creativity is not a private enterprise but occurs only when an individual, who has mastered his subject matter is acknowledged by the gatekeepers of his domain. These gatekeepers (people) are called the field. Their job is to decide whether a new idea should enter into the domain. In music, the field might be the critics. In psychology, other psychologist who conduct peer review as part of the publication process.
Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890) Recognized today as a genius in his domain. Rejected by his field during his lifetime. A disturbed man who painted strange canvases. According to Csikszentmihalyi, van Goghs creativity came into being when a sufficient number of art experts (the field) started to recognize his contribution to the domain. In this view, youre only creative when so recognized by your peers.
Doug Block
Independent film maker. Film school at Cornell. Learned domain. Several previous films. Practiced craft. 51 Birch Street is story of his parents reflecting back after his mothers death and fathers remarriage. Great story, wonderfully edited. Critical acclaim (gatekeepers for the field). Featured at several film festivals. Birch Street (website for film)
Process of creativity
1. Delineating the problem. 2. Developing knowledge base. 3. Synthesis (putting the elements together). 4. Withholding judgment during process.
Synthesis
Putting elements together. Many different impacts all around the world. May seem unconnected but creative people can pull together the elements and see the relationships.
Alpine and polar glaciers have retreated since 1961, and the amount of ice melting in Greenland has increased since 1979.
Withholding judgment
Making judgments will stop the creative process. Suspend judgment for a time. People with strong opinions have tendency to make premature decisions. People need to set aside their preconceptions. A mind is like a parachute. It works best when it is open.
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