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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "PS 199"
COURSE NAME: "Science of Creativity"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Fall 2024
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Carola Salvi
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: MW 1:30 PM 2:45 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES:
OFFICE HOURS:
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
In this course, students will explore human creativity through different scientific perspectives (i.e., psychological, cognitive, artistic, and neurobiological). They will be introduced to research in creativity studies, and learn how to critically examine the current theories, evidence, and applications. The main topics include the definition of creativity; psychological and cognitive profiles of creative individuals; basic cognitive functioning of creative thinking and its neural correlates; and cognitive strategies for optimizing creative output.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
The main topics include the definition of creativity; psychological and cognitive profiles of creative individuals; analysis of the creative process (problem finding, incubation, idea generation and idea evaluation); basic cognitive functioning of creative thinking and its neural correlates; and cognitive strategies for optimising creative output; new frontiers on creativity research (e.g., neural correlates of flow and creativity and psychedelics).
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
  1. In this course students will: 
  2. -Understand the theoretical frameworks and psychological theories underpinning creativity, including divergent thinking, associative theory, and the role of expertise.
  3. -Analyze historical and contemporary perspectives on creativity across various domains such as art, science, technology, and business.
  4. -Apply creativity-enhancing techniques and strategies to generate innovative solutions to complex problems.
  5. -Evaluate the factors that facilitate or inhibit creativity, including environmental influences, individual traits, and organizational culture.
  6. -Develop practical skills in brainstorming, idea generation, and creative problem-solving through experiential learning activities and case studies.
TEXTBOOK:
NONE
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
ExamsThere will be 2 midterms exams administered during the semester, plus a final. The midterms will review the assigned textbook readings, lectures, and additional material covered in the preceding classes. Each midterm will cover approximately 1/2 of the course material. The final exam will include multiple-choice, short answers, and a 500 words essay assessing a creative project. Students will be asked questions on the material learned in class and to do a critical evaluation of a creative project in any field of creativity (from a business idea to a scientific discovery to any form of art; from cinema to literature and design). The essay will ask students to critically assess the elements of novelty and originality of creative projects. This written assignment includes multiple-choice, short answers, and a 500 words essay. Students will be asked questions on the material learned in class and to do a critical evaluation of a creative project in any field of creativity (from a business idea to scientific discovery to any form of art; from cinema to literature and design). This assignment will give students the ability to critically assess the elements of novelty and originality of creative projects. There will be a total of 1 final assignment that however requires a deep understanding of the science of creativity and critical evaluation of the idea content. There will be no make-up assignment, however, if you turn in the assignment on time, you will be given the opportunity to review it and adjust it one time. Only the TWO highest scores will count towards the final grade. The lowest score will be dropped. The extra exam will allow those who have to miss an exam (i.e., excused absence) to make up for it. If you miss two of the three tests, you will be dropped off the class. No other arrangement will be made. 90
Active Lecture ParticipationAttendance and participation. Class attendance and participation are crucial components of the learning process. When you attend and when you actively engage in-class activities, you process new information in at least four ways: you listen, you take notes, you ask questions, and while discussing a given subject, you paraphrase what you have just heard. A central part of this course is in-person discussion, during which you have an opportunity to clarify, expand upon, apply, and challenge what you have read in the assigned texts. Class time will be divided into lectures, discussions, and other structured activities. All the above increases the odds of understanding and remembering the material covered in class. Active discussions and journal clubs will be part of the way you learn the science of creativity. Therefore, I expect you to participate in class discussions and exercises. I am aware that unforeseen life circumstances may impact your ability to attend class. I believe that natural consequences are appropriate here: if you miss class, you miss out on important course material and experiences, which impacts learning. It is my experience that students who miss classes have the most difficulty. 10
   

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course.
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS AND EXAMINATION POLICY
You cannot make-up a major exam (midterm or final) without the permission of the Dean’s Office. The Dean’s Office will grant such permission only when the absence was caused by a serious impediment, such as a documented illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (in which you must attend the funeral) or other situations of similar gravity. Absences due to other meaningful conflicts, such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel difficulties, student misunderstandings or personal convenience, will not be excused. Students who will be absent from a major exam must notify the Dean’s Office prior to that exam. Absences from class due to the observance of a religious holiday will normally be excused. Individual students who will have to miss class to observe a religious holiday should notify the instructor by the end of the Add/Drop period to make prior arrangements for making up any work that will be missed.
ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.
SCHEDULE

TEXT BOOk

 

 

 The Routledge International Handbook of Creative Cognition

Edited By Linden J. Ball, Frédéric Vallée-Tourangeau

ISBN 9780367443788
834 Pages 86 B/W Illustrations
Published August 31, 2023 by Routledge

 

Chapters:

1. Divergent Thinking as Creative Cognition 
Mark A. Runco 

12. Mental Imagery and Creative Cognition 
David G. Pearson

 

13. Incubation 
Ken Gilhooly

 

19. The Phenomenology of Insight: The Aha! Experience 
Amory H. Danek

 

25. Network Neuroscience of Domain-General and Domain-Specific Creativity 
Roger E. Beaty, Hannah M. Merseal, and Daniel C. Zeitlen

 
26. A Closer Look at Transitions Between the Generative and Evaluative Phases of Creative Thought 
Andre Zamani, Caitlin Mills, Manesh Girn, and Kalina Christoff

 
27. Markers of Insight 
Carola Salvi

 

and

 

Explaining Creativity. The Science of Human Innovation

Second Edition

R. Keith Sawyer

Published by Oxford University Press in 2012

 

Chapters:

Part I: Conceptions
Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: Conceptions of Creativity
Part II: Individualist Approaches
Chapter 3: Defining creativity through assessment
Chapter 4: The creative personality
Chapter 5: The creative process, part 1
Chapter 6: The creative process, part 2
Chapter 7: The creative process, part 3

Chapter 9: Biology and creativity

Chapter 22: How to be more creative

 

 

Additional Information and Resources

Laptops and Other Devices. Multitasking is a myth. Therefore, you should not use a laptop or tablet computer in this course during lectures or discussion, including for note-taking or reading purposes, unless you can demonstrate a compelling need for it. Likewise, you may not use a music player or headphones, unless they are attached to a hearing-assistive device approved by the professor (i.e., me). If you are given such an exception, it will be immediately and permanently revoked if you abuse the technology for off-topic purposes. The use of such devices can be a distraction to your classmates and instructor and a detriment to your learning. Readings should be brought to class in the print version or printed out. Notes should be taken on paper and scanned or transcribed after class (transcribing handwritten notes is an effective study method). For certain activities in-class, the instructor may request you to bring a laptop or to take it out and use it for that specific purpose.

 

Classroom expectations 

You are expected to have read the assignments before class, and it would be to your benefit to also read them again after class. You are expected to bring a copy of assigned readings for each day’s class and have them available to refer to. You are expected to listen respectfully to the professor and your fellow students and participate in class discussions and activities. Clear failure to abide by these expectations will result in you being asked to leave the classroom and being counted absent for the day. 

 

Some Pro Tips 

·  Read the syllabus carefully and refer to it often. 

·  Come to class with questions, sections of texts you want to discuss already flagged, and comments to make. Write in your books and/or take notes while you read! Pose questions and make observations as you read and write them down. Reflect upon our previous class discussions and jot down notes and page numbers that you think are relevant. 

·  Come to every class prepared. Read carefully and take time to skim through readings before class to refresh details that you may have forgotten or details that you may have overlooked during the first read-through. 

·  Listen and contribute actively to the conversation. 

·  Visit me during Office Hours, especially if you have a question or observation that you did not get to make in class. Visit me during Office Hours even if you don’t have questions. 

·  Complete every assignment on time. 

·  If you have concerns or questions about your work or performance (at any stage in the process), come see me. I am happy to work with you. 

·  Get the email addresses or phone numbers of a couple of students in case you need to find out what you missed. Consider discussing your presentation or the readings with each other before they are due. 

·  Come to class on time and do not pack up early. If something comes up and you have to be absent or leave early, please talk to me about it. Life happens.

·  If you are having difficulties (in life, class, etc.) talk to me before you get too far in a hole. Everyone has a tough semester.

 

 

Schedule

 

LECTURE 1- Intro to Creativity

LECTURE 2 - Conceptions on Creativity

LECTURE 3 History of Science of Creativity 

LECTURE 4 Measures of Creativity 

 LECTURE 5 Componential theory of creativity 

LECTURE 6 Creativity: state vs trait? 

LECTURE 7 The Sylvia Plath effect; Creativity and psychopathology

LECTURE 8 Creative Personality and Romantic attraction

LECTURE 11 The creative process

LECTURE 12 The creative process part 2 

Mid term 1

LECTURE 13 what's problem solving

LECTURE 14 History of problem solving

LECTURE 15 Psychology of Gestalt

LECTURE 16 Classic Insight Problems

LECTURE 17 Idea generation: insight and step-by-step

LECTURE 18 Idea generation: insight and step-by-step

LECTURE 19 Physiological markers of insight

LECTURE 20 Neural Correlates of creative cognition

LECTURE 21 Flow and neural correlates of Flow

LECTURE 22 Psychedelics and creative cognition

Reflection

Mid term 2

Final