Creativity is a very mysterious thing for lots of people. Myths usually rely on a grain of truth that gets twisted and taken out of a wider context. There are a lot of misconceptions about creativity still floating freely all over the world, which suggests that the scientific research we know on this subject has not yet received the recognition it deserves. Let’s look closer at some creativity myths.

1. Creativity is limited only to art
   Creativity is very often associated with art disciplines, such as music, painting, graphic design, or dance, but in fact, creativity itself is not subject-specific. Creativity is a free form of self-expression involving making new connections between ideas in any area. This means that we can be creative in maths, science, physics, and many other subjects. In every single discipline, creativity will be expressed differently.
   

2. Creativity is a rare gift reserved for a talented few
   Each one of us has a different combination of abilities, personality traits, and experiences that make us more or less able to express our creative potential. And creativity isn’t magically granted to us at birth. Recent research shows that when it comes to creativity, practice is extremely important and with proper training, anyone is capable of delivering new and creative ideas. Some people can indeed express themselves very easily and create innovative ideas or products very quickly; however, that does not prevent each one of us from becoming more creative in the area that we are interested in.
   

3. The creative process is fun and shouldn’t be taken seriously
   Creativity can be a fun activity to counterbalance the more serious “work” we need to do, but the creative process presents many challenges. It involves a lot of different components, such as imagination, problem-solving, originality, or productivity, which require concentration, persistence, and determination to succeed.
   

4. To be creative you need to be right-brained
   This myth says that some people are logical and analytical because they are left-brain dominant, while in contrast, others are creative and innovative because they are right-brain dominant. The two brain hemispheres do indeed function differently, but most mental functions involve both hemispheres working together. Creativity is not the domain of one side of the brain. Instead, based on recent research, it seems clear that creativity involves multiple brain areas across both hemispheres. So, every one of us is capable of being creative.
   

5. Children get most of their creative experience from free play and unstructured art activities
   Children, of course, do benefit from free play and unstructured art activities. Creative play is one of the most important things to promote the development of sensory exploration and motor skills. But that does not mean that all play involves creativity. Our active involvement, as adults, is vital; children must be actively involved in the process of their learning for creativity to thrive. Children need stimulation and creative problems to solve, and we should help them to develop their creative skills through play.
   

6. Creative ideas are usually the result of a sudden inspiration
   Creative thinking is commonly associated with a sudden inspiration, a Eureka moment, or a muse. However, recent research demonstrates that active engagement is an important aspect of creative cognition. So rather than thinking about creative ideas as “falling out of the sky”, we should understand that they can only manifest from a foundation of knowledge and preparation. Creativity is not a passive process and creative ideas are a result of an individual’s hard work on a particular problem.
   

7. Creativity cannot be taught
   Connecting creativity only with geniuses makes people think that their creativity is fixed and cannot be developed. However, a lot of different research shows that creativity is a skill that can flourish when managed properly. Creativity begins with a foundation of knowledge and mastering a way of thinking. So, we can learn to be creative by experimenting, exploring, questioning, using our imagination, and linking information together.

References

M. Benedek et al., 2021, Creativity myths: Prevalence and correlates of misconceptions on creativity, Personality and Individual Differences, 182, 111068 (https://doi.org//10.1016/j.paid.2021.111068)

C. Sharp, 2004, Developing young children’s creativity: What can we learn from research, Topic, 32, 5-12 (https://www.nfer.ac.uk/publications/55502/55502.pdf)

G. Scott et al., 2004, The effectiveness of creativity training: A quantitative review, Creativity Research Journal, Vol. 16, No. 4, 361–388 (https://doi.org/10.1080/10400410409534549)

D. Burkus, 2013, The Myths of Creativity: The Truth About How Innovative Companies and People Generate Great Ideas, Jossey-Bass

M. Travers, 2021, 15 Myths About Creativity, Psychology Today (https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/social-instincts/202107/15-myths-about-creativity)

E. Clabough, 2019, Second Nature. How parents can use neuroscience to help kids develop empathy, creativity, and self-control, Sounds True