Title: Creative Outcome as Implausible Utility

Abstract

Two perspectives are used to reframe Simonton’s recent three-factor definition of creative outcome. The first perspective is functional: that creative ideas are those that add significantly to knowledge by providing both utility and learning. The second perspective is calculational: that learning can be estimated by the change in probabilistic beliefs about an idea’s utility before and after it has played out in its environment. The results of the reframing are proposed conceptual and mathematical definitions of (a) creative outcome as the product of two overarching factors (utility and learning) and (b) learning as a function of two subsidiary factors (blindness reduction and surprise). Learning will be shown to depend much more strongly on surprise than on blindness reduction, so creative outcome may then also be defined as “implausible utility”.

Authors:

Tsao, J. Y. ^[1]; Ting, C. L. ^[2]; Johnson, C. M. ^[2]

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+ Show Author Affiliations

1. Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States). Material, Physical, and Chemical Science Center
2. Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States). Information & Systems Research & Analysis Center

Publication Date:

2019-07-03

Research Org.:

Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)

OSTI Identifier:

1543062

Alternate Identifier(s):

OSTI ID: 1574811

Report Number(s):

SAND2019-5800J
Journal ID: ISSN 1089-2680; 675766

Grant/Contract Number:  

AC04-94AL85000; NA0003525

Resource Type:

Published Article

Journal Name:

Review of General Psychology

Additional Journal Information:

Journal Volume: 23; Journal Issue: 3; Journal ID: ISSN 1089-2680

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

creativity; utility; learning; blindness; surprise; implausibility