Have you ever heard that creativity can be applied in various aspects of our lives? Indeed, creativity is nothing more than bringing a new form or a different solution to a problem. It can be a new method, a device, an object, something artistic, or not. Being creative doesn’t necessarily mean being an artist; creativity is a part of the lives of many people who are not specifically from the artistic world.

Individuals considered creative possess certain qualities that drive them to exercise creativity daily in their lives, sometimes without even realizing it. These individuals exhibit a creative productivity to solve most of the issues in their lives, whether personal or professional.

Characteristics of creatives

Creativity, Autonomy and self-confidence

Creative individuals tend to be non-conformist and independent in their actions and thoughts. They have a deep, broad, and sensitive self-awareness, understanding both their strengths and weaknesses.

Independence in thoughts and actions is often crucial for the creative process, as creative people need to be able to work alone while also being willing to express ideas with others, even if these ideas sometimes seem radical.

Creative individuals can also be introspective and reflective.

They rely on their own intuition and don’t always depend on interaction with others to create or find answers to problems in a creative and entirely new way. While many seek external sources for creative solutions, this is not a determining factor for creativity. Many ideas and solutions sometimes come from a completely introspective process by a single person, not necessarily a group.

Creativity also seems to be a common characteristic among people who are naturally curious. These individuals have the ability to formulate unique questions and naturally seek novelties. This allows creative individuals to identify unique needs (perhaps a problem or opportunity that many others are not seeing).

It is also common among people with high intelligence or above-average intelligence. Many studies on the relationship between creativity and intelligence have shown that being extremely intelligent is not a stimulant for creativity, but rather one of the characteristics of many creative individuals. This means that a highly intelligent person is not always creative; it’s a combination of factors.

For example, a mathematician may have a high level of intelligence primarily using convergent thinking (analytical reasoning – measured by intelligence tests), while a creative person with a high level of intelligence may primarily use divergent thinking (a wealth of ideas and original thinking).

Educational psychologist E. Paul Torrance identified other characteristics that make a person creative, such as having fluent thinking, thinking quickly about many ideas, being flexible, the ability to use these ideas unusually, and being original in these thoughts. He did this using the Torrance Test of Creative Thinking, which explains all these skills.

New ideas were sometimes rejected and still are in many cases. In some groups of people, there is a tendency not to look favorably upon something new. Perhaps it’s the fact that many have difficulty dealing with the new. On the other hand, many societies have adopted creative ideas to solve a myriad of problems (even in many cases without recognizing their inventors, especially when they were women).

Creativity: Creative people don’t exist by chance.

Csikszentmihalyi discussed the relationship of the creative person with the world. In the process, he formulated a view of creativity as a system that comprises (1) the creative individual, (2) the domain (the class of knowledge or activity that makes up a culture or any area of expertise, such as figure skating, chess, or singing), and (3) the specific field of practice.

The individual is the creative person along with their talents, life experiences, and aspirations. They interact with the sociocultural environment; they and the environment are in constant interaction.

Creativity requires a significant investment in education, training, knowledge, learning, and practice. A person may possess creative thinking skills but may not be able to produce works that are influential and valued due to a lack of specialization (and sometimes, even opportunities).

Creative Process

American psychologist Mark Runco states that the creative process consists of six essential stages or phases. In the first phase, “orientation” (a moment of intense interest and curiosity), the creative individual gathers information.

The second stage, “incubation,” involves defining the problem and seeking a solution, involving the processing of large amounts of information; this can occur at a conscious or unconscious level. “Illumination,” the third stage, is marked by divergent thoughts, openness, and enthusiasm.

In the fourth stage, “verification,” the individual evaluates their own work and compares it with what is known in the field. Then, in the “communication” stage, the individual submits their work to the field, making it available to experts who will judge its quality and usefulness. “Validation” occurs in the sixth stage, where the work is made available to society and is consequently supported or rejected.

This phase model supports the systemic view of the creative process, emphasizing the social validation that occurs if a work is supported. In this way, the mental processes of the creative individual, the demands of the domain, and the recognition by the field (or society) combine to produce the phenomenon known as creativity – and demonstrate how this unpredictable component of human behavior contributes to human evolution.

Read more:

• Intuitive Artist: 10 Signs You’re One (and How to Embrace It)
• Artistic Expression: Why Art Matters
• Art and Mental Health: How Creativity Supports the Mind
• Bohemian Rhapsody and Crime and Punishment: Two Souls, One Cry

FAQ – Creativity characteristics

1. What is creativity?
Creativity is the ability to generate new ideas, approaches, or solutions that are original and valuable, whether in art, science, or everyday life.

2. Is creativity the same as intelligence?
Not exactly. Creativity often involves divergent thinking and imagination, while intelligence is more linked to convergent and analytical thinking. A person can be intelligent without necessarily being creative.

3. Can creativity be developed?
Yes. Through practice, education, exposure to new experiences, and problem-solving exercises, creativity can be strengthened and enhanced.

4. What are the main stages of the creative process?
The six stages are: orientation, incubation, illumination, verification, communication, and validation. Each stage represents a step in turning ideas into valuable outcomes.

5. Why is creativity important?
Creativity drives innovation, problem-solving, and cultural evolution. It helps individuals adapt to challenges, create meaningful art, and find unique solutions in professional and personal life.