The creativity ethos: A palette of benevolent processes and outcomes

Abstract

Is creativity good, bad, or neutral? Although creative outcomes can serve malevolent purposes, we argue the underlying processes that support creative expression—what we call here the Creativity Ethos—lean toward the good in human nature. The dimensions of this Ethos can be metaphorically grouped under three main colors, Blue, Yellow and Red, related to cognition and personality, socioemotional interactions, and motivation, respectively. Blue processes are flexibility and openness, Yellow processes are perspective-taking and compassion, and Red processes are passion and inspiration. In the end, a well-developed Creativity Ethos can be compared to a rainbow that showcases how different colors valorize each other; further, they can all be enhanced through co-creation, leading to emergent changes in the world. However, there are also cases in which these components are underdeveloped, which may lead to less benevolent outcomes via profiles we call the “idle activist,” “selfish CEO,” and the “potential fanatic.” We end with reflections on why discussions of the Creativity Ethos are important not only for positive and humanistic psychology, but for any discipline, including Possibility Studies, interested in developing wise and humanizing forms of creativity.

Creative Preservation: A Framework of Creativity in Support of Degrowth

“…Recent theorising in creativity research has proposed the palette of creativity ethos, which can help to foster understanding of creative preservation practices, which seem to be intrinsically benevolent (Kaufman & Glȃveanu, 2023). According to Magrini (2017, p. 2), the term 'ethos' means one's intimate space of "dwelling, of abode, with others."…”

“…To dwell is to create intimacy with a space of some sort. Hence, when Kaufman and Glȃveanu (2023) recently approached the idea of a creativity 'ethos', it was possible to understand this word through the act of relationality and dwelling. Their proposition is that a creative endeavour can contribute to an 'ethos' around flexibility, openness, perspective taking, compassion, and inspiration.…”

“…Creators have an ethical obligation towards their creative outputs (Moran et al, 2014). Any creative actthat is, any generation of meaningful noveltymust be assessed in relation to how it contributes to societal good (Canina et al, 2023;Kaufman & Glȃveanu, 2023;Noonan & Gardner, 2014;Sternberg, 2021;Verger & Glȃveanu, 2024). In light of the current ecological crisis, the concept of creation cannot be fully grasped without recognising the negative impact of perceiving the world as a mere stockpile of resources.…”

“…Creativity researchers have a societal responsibility in terms of the way they shed light on practices that can contribute to a reimagining of new modes of relations with our material world. Most creativity researchers aim to contribute to good outcomes, and seek to provide meaningful data that can make a transformational difference in the world (Cropley, 2024;Glȃveanu et al, 2020;Kaufman & Glȃveanu, 2023;Sternberg, 2021). And indeed, research on creativity is not entirely tied to the initial axiology that Guilford (1950) promoted when he launched the field to promote economic growth.…”

“…And indeed, research on creativity is not entirely tied to the initial axiology that Guilford (1950) promoted when he launched the field to promote economic growth. For instance, creativity can contribute to helping people to connect, find meaning in life, heal, and express themselves (Kaufman & Glȃveanu, 2023). However, while the field increasingly engages in the study of the transformational effect of creativity on society, the creative practices that can contribute to a post-growth society are yet to be explored by creativity research.…”