The Evolving Systems Approach in the Study of Creativity

THE EVOLVING SYSTEMS APPROACH IN THE STUDY OF CREATIVITY Introduction  Origin of the Evolving Systems Approach: The evolving systems approach emerged as a result of a long-term case study of Charles Darwin. Initially, it aimed to understand how complex thinking develops over time.  Shift in Focus: This approach shifted the focus from why creative achievements occur to how they develop and the cognitive structures behind them.  Demand for Multidisciplinary Knowledge: Studying belief systems, their growth, and transformation requires familiarity with the individual's field of activity, which can be challenging for researchers. This demand often exceeds conventional psychological tools. Uniqueness of Creative Individuals  Unique Individuals: The evolving systems approach treats each creative person as unique. It rejects the conventional psychometric measurement that assigns individuals to trait dimensions, focusing instead on the individuality and uniqueness of each case.  Holistic Approach: This approach takes into account all relevant aspects, including personality characteristics and the social context, and views them as integrated components of the creative process.  Role of the Case Study: Case studies provide a means to understand the interplay between elements in the system, revealing how single components contribute to the overall organization.  Evolving Systems Approach vs. Case Study: While closely related, the evolving systems approach and the case-study method are not synonymous. They complement each other, with the case study highlighting phenomena of primary concern in the evolving systems approach.  Weak Theory: The evolving systems approach is described as a "weak theory" because it doesn't produce universal laws or predictions. Instead, it offers concepts and tools for analyzing single cases. The Network of Enterprise  Long-Term Development of Creative Thinking: A central aspect of the evolving systems approach is the long-term development of creative thinking. Creative individuals divide their path into meaningful phases and develop strategies to navigate interruptions.  The Network of Enterprise: This construct is central to the approach, illustrating the purposeful nature of creative work. It contradicts the idea of divine inspiration and emphasizes that creativity involves work over time.  Collaborative Nature of Creative Work: Creative work is not solitary but often collaborative. It can involve mentorship, idea exchange, or close cooperation within a shared perspective. Constant Change and Uniqueness  Constant Evolution: Just as Heraclitus stated that you can't step into the same river twice, the evolving systems approach recognizes that creators, their systems, and researchers continually change. This ongoing evolution makes standardizing measures of creativity challenging.  Emphasis on the Unique Individual: The continuous flux in the creative process and the researcher's perspective allows for a focus on the unique individual, highlighting the significance of understanding creativity within its specific context. Conclusion  The evolving systems approach in the study of creativity emphasizes the development of creative thinking over an extended period, the unique nature of creative individuals, and the collaborative aspects of creative work.  This approach challenges traditional psychometric and experimental methods, providing a holistic perspective on creativity and the need to study each creative case as unique.