Psychology of Creativity: Making and Using Metaphors (PSY4226.01)

David Anderegg

This course will address two large areas in the psychology of creativity: (1) special creativity, that is, the study of creative persons and the specific characteristics of high-level creative thinkers. We will look at how creativity is measured, what personal characteristics or life circumstances seem to foster creative achievement, and the contributions of history in making decisions about who is creative and who is not. (2) general creativity, or the ordinary experience of creativity in everyday life. We will look at metaphoric and figurative language, how it is used and understood, and other experiences of normal creative leaps made by all human thinkers.

Prerequisites: one course in psychology, preferably Normality and Abnormality or Cognitive Psychology.
Credits: 4
M/Th 1:40-3:30
Maximum Enrollment: 15
Course Frequency: One time only
This course is categorized as All courses, Psychology.