"Challenge in artistic flow experiences: an interdisciplinary intervention" by Janet Banfield

This article, published in the journal Qualitative Research in Psychology, explores the psychological phenomenon of flow through the lens of artistic practice. The author, Janet Banfield, argues that the traditional understanding of flow as an inherently positive experience characterised by a balance between skills and challenge does not accurately reflect the experiences of artists. Instead, Banfield proposes that flow in artistic practice is often associated with periods of frustration, self-doubt, and anxiety, stemming from the unpredictable and dynamic nature of the creative process. The article further examines the crucial role played by materiality and the artist’s relationship with their tools and materials in shaping both the challenge and the potential for flow.

"The role of graded category structure in imaginative thought" by Thomas B. Ward, Merryl J. Patterson, Cynthia M. Sifonis, Rebecca A. Dodds, and Katherine N. Saunders

This article investigates the concept of "structured imagination," which refers to the tendency for novel ideas to be influenced by pre-existing knowledge. The authors conduct multiple experiments across different categories (animals, tools, fruit) to demonstrate that the most easily retrieved exemplars within a category are the ones most likely to be used as starting points for creative generation, even when participants are encouraged to be creative. This effect, they argue, is driven by the cognitive demands of generating novel ideas, suggesting that individuals may not have sufficient cognitive resources to adequately monitor and reject readily available, but potentially inappropriate, information.

"SeIns: Semantic Instability in Art"

"Variants of Semantic Instability (SeIns) in the Arts: A Classification Study Based on Experiential Reports"

Claudia Muth and Claus-Christian Carbon (+Bera M. Hesslinger)

These sources examine the phenomenon of Semantic Instability (SeIns) in art, which occurs when artworks defy a determinate interpretation and instead offer a plurality of potential meanings. The first source provides a theoretical framework for SeIns and identifies different types of semantic instability, including multistability, dichotomy, visual indeterminacy, and the experience of hidden images. The second source presents a classification study that confirms these types of SeIns, adding a fifth type called integrative blend, and the final source explores the relationship between SeIns and the experience of insight. It suggests that insight can be rewarding even if it does not completely resolve the ambiguity of an artwork, and that this is a key factor in the appreciation of art.

The Cambridge Handbook of Creativity is a comprehensive text that explores the nature of creativity from historical, psychological, and neurological perspectives. The book examines the cognitive and affective processes involved in creative thinking, including divergent thinking, emotion regulation, and the interplay of personality traits. It also investigates the influence of the social and physical environment on creativity, including how cultural context shapes creative expression. The handbook further explores the relationship between creativity and mental illness, suggesting that there may be a link between high levels of creativity and a greater risk for certain mental disorders. Finally, the text examines the role of creativity in everyday life and its importance in education and the workplace.

"Uncomfortable images in art and nature" by Dominic Fernandez and Arnold J Wilkins (2008)

This scientific paper investigates the link between the Fourier amplitude spectrum of an image and the discomfort it causes in viewers. The authors hypothesise that uncomfortable images have a disproportionately higher amplitude at spatial frequencies close to 3 cycles per degree, a range known to induce seizures in individuals with photosensitive epilepsy. Six studies are conducted, comparing the discomfort ratings of various images – including contemporary art, filtered noise, and natural scenes – with their respective Fourier spectra. Across these studies, a strong correlation is observed between discomfort and energy at the specified spatial frequency range. This research proposes that understanding the Fourier spectrum can help predict and avoid negative reactions to images in contexts such as public art and hospitals.

"Intuition in the context of object perception: Intuitive gestalt judgments rest on the unconscious activation of semantic representations" by Annette Bolte and Thomas Goschke (2008)

This paper investigates intuitive judgements in a perceptual task involving fragmented line drawings. The researchers wanted to determine if these intuitive judgements were based on unconsciously activated semantic representations of the objects depicted. They conducted three experiments using a modified version of the Waterloo Gestalt Closure Task, in which participants had to judge whether or not a fragmented line drawing depicted a meaningful object. They combined this task with a lexical decision task to measure whether presenting the fragments primed the corresponding object names. The authors found that participants were able to discriminate coherent fragments from incoherent or inverted fragments even when they could not consciously identify the object. Additionally, the results showed that coherent fragments primed the correct object names in the lexical decision task, suggesting that intuitive gestalt judgements are indeed based on unconscious semantic activation.

"The Role of Knowledge in Creative Thinking" by Yoed N. Kenett (2024)

This academic article, authored by Yoed N. Kenett, explores the relationship between knowledge, particularly semantic memory, and creative thinking. The article focuses on the associative theory of creativity, which posits that individuals with a more interconnected and flexible semantic memory structure are better equipped to generate creative ideas. Kenett’s research uses computational tools like network science and natural language processing to map the structure of semantic memory in individuals and quantify their ability to creatively search through their knowledge base. The article reviews Kenett’s past research, which found evidence to support the associative theory, discusses his current work on the dynamics of semantic memory search, and outlines his future plans to examine the evolution of semantic memory and its impact on creative thinking.

"A Triangular Theory of Creativity" by Robert J. Sternberg (2016)

This article, written by Robert J. Sternberg, presents a triangular theory of creativity that builds upon his earlier theories. The theory asserts that creative individuals engage in three types of defiance: defying the crowd (challenging conventional beliefs), defying oneself (moving beyond one’s own previous ideas), and defying the Zeitgeist (questioning the underlying assumptions of a field). Sternberg then explores seven different manifestations of creativity that result from combining these types of defiance. He concludes by comparing his triangular theory to ten other models of creativity and by suggesting seven ways to empirically test his theory.

"Personality, Cognitive Skills, and Creativity in Different Life Domains" by Keith James & Cheryl Asmus (2010)

This study investigates the relationship between personality, cognitive skills, and creativity in different life domains. The researchers hypothesize that personality and cognitive skills have different predictive powers for different types of creativity, such as problem-solving, artistic, and social creativity. They also propose that cognitive skills mediate personality effects on creativity and that personality and cognitive skills interact to shape creativity. The study uses a personality inventory, a divergent thinking test, and self-rated creativity measures to assess these relationships in a sample of 41 students. The results suggest that different personality traits and cognitive skills are indeed associated with different types of creativity, and that cognitive skills may partially mediate personality effects on creativity. The study also found evidence for interactions between personality and divergent thinking skills, supporting the idea that these factors work together to influence creativity.

"Recent Trends in the Psychological Study of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts" by Colin Martindale

This academic paper, published in the journal Empirical Studies of the Arts, is a comprehensive review of the trends in the psychological study of aesthetics, creativity, and the arts over the past 25 years. The author, Colin Martindale, argues that the field has undergone a "renaissance" since its decline during the behaviourism era, moving from psychodynamic and neo-behaviourist foundations to cognitive, neuropsychological, and evolutionary approaches. The article explores key historical influences, critically evaluates influential theories and researchers, and provides a detailed overview of recent developments in various disciplines, including psychology, sociology, anthropology, and literary criticism.