Creative Intelligence: Characteristics, Examples and How to Develop it

Creative intelligence, although not formally part of Gardner’s so-called “multiple intelligences”, is, without a doubt, an aspect of general intelligence. It is not clear whether, in reality, it is another type of intelligence, not yet included, or a specific way of processing information that can occur in different types of intelligence.

In the following PsychologyFor article we are going to discuss the topic, defining the concept, its characteristics, examples of creative intelligence and, finally, we will propose different activities to develop it

What is creative intelligence

What is creative intelligence according to psychology? Creative intelligence is that part of intelligence dedicated to recreate something new with existing elements. According to Alan J. Rowe, creative intelligence is conditioned by several factors such as: character, the way of perceiving and processing information, personal values, etc. All these factors interact with each other to form a particular way of acting that allows build new objects or ideas that make a positive contribution to society

Creative intelligence is a defining characteristic of the human essence, it is intrinsic to the human being

Intelligence types

Howard Gardner established the concept of multiple intelligences to define the concept of intelligence. According to the author, intelligence is the human being’s ability to solve problems and, depending on the type of problem, the intelligence manifested will have one or another characteristics. In his classification he defined seven types of intelligence: logical-mathematical, linguistic, musical, spatial, corporal-kinesthetic, interpersonal and intrapersonal. Subsequently three other types have been included of intelligence to said classification: natural intelligence, spiritual intelligence and emotional intelligence, created by Daniel Goleman.

In this classification and its subsequent contribution, creative intelligence is not included as such, which leads different authors to ask whether this type of intelligence constitutes another aspect of multiple intelligences not yet included or whether it is the combination between approach proposed by Gardner and Goleman.

Characteristics of creative intelligence

As defining characteristics of creative intelligence we can name the following:

• Intuition and high sensitivity: Creativity arises from the intuitive, from the connection with the sensitive, an aspect totally removed from the logical, rational, normative and expected. In this article we explain what intuition is and how it develops.
• Inspiration: By staying connected to our intuition, moments of inspiration arise, the origin of the creative process.
• Dream or imagination: following inspiration, the person enters into their own creative process through daydreams or imagination.
• Significant learning: Everything that arises from the creative process occurs as significant learning, that is, as long as it is a self-motivated process, the result acquired is enormously significant for the person.
• Innovation: the results derived from creative processes include the characteristic of innovation insofar as something created represents something new that differs from what was pre-established.

Examples of creative intelligence

Some historical examples that represent a manifestation of creative intelligence would be:

• The invention of the light bulb, by T. Edison.
• The musical creations of Beethoven, Mozart, Bach etc.
• All the pictorial works, sculptures and inventions of Leonardo Da Vinci.
• Tesla’s contribution to the advancement of technology.

In reality, and without reaching such high levels of creativity, the manifestation of creative intelligence occurs in the face of any event that involves something new. In our daily lives, we are creative when we invent a recipe original, we create new rules in a game, we invent a story, we solve a conflict constructively, etc.

Activities to develop creative intelligence

The development of creative intelligence provides multiple benefits to personal development: high levels of self-esteem, flexibility and ability to adapt, ability to provide solutions to problems, improvisation, etc. Therefore, it is very convenient respect children’s creativity, not so much developing it as it manifests itself clearly and without censorship during early childhood. In this article we talk about conscious parenting.

One way to accompany this innate creativity, or develop it at later ages in which children (due to their socialization) may have partially disconnected from this creative capacity, is through activities adapted to the different evolutionary moments that foster connection with intuitive and sensitive processes and its practical manifestation. Some of the activities that we can use are the following:

For the little ones:

• Draw and paint to express internal states.
• Play with sand, mud, plasticine, through which they express themselves through touch.
• Games of body expression, dances, songs, etc., other modes of internal expression.
• Activities in contact with nature, which present stimulating elements in themselves.
• Telling and listening to stories that, in addition to developing verbal intelligence, means stimulating imagination and creativity.

For the older ones:

• Theater and dramatization, allows you to imagine, create, improvise, etc.
• Encourage inventing (games, experiments, ideas, etc.).
• Create music, melodies, dances, etc.
• Debates and colloquiums.
• Changing roles.
• Create a story in a group.
• Change daily routines.
• Excursions and camping.

This article is merely informative, at PsychologyFor we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.

If you want to read more articles similar to Creative intelligence: characteristics, examples and how to develop it we recommend that you enter our Cognitive Psychology category.

Bibliography

• Scout Group X- El Pilar de Valencia. Creativity dynamics. Recovered from: https://educrea.cl/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/DOC2-DINAMICAS-DE-CREATIVIDAD.pdf
• Gastelu Martínez, AI Creative intelligence. Student publications. Retrieved from: https://www.aiu.edu/publications/student/spanish/180-207/La-Inteligencia-Creativa.html