Before the Gates of Excellence
The Determinants of Creative Genius

Before the Gates of Excellence is an exceptionally well-written and lively account of the nature of productive creativity or 'genius'.

R. A. Ochse (Author)

9780521376990, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 26 January 1990

312 pages
21.3 x 13.8 x 2 cm, 0.382 kg

Before the Gates of Excellence is an exceptionally well-written and lively account of the nature of productive creativity or 'genius'. It is a comprehensive survey of knowledge about productive creativity: it explores the theoretical concepts of creativity and the creative process, and attempts to explain the determining factors. Almost all schools of thought and methodological approaches are represented. The facts and ideas discussed are drawn not only from the findings of psychological research but also from biographical studies, autobiographical accounts and personal documents, illustrating the interacting influences of social environments, personality, life experiences, etc. This clear and comprehensive account of the determinants and processes of creativity will appeal to undergraduates and graduate students of psychology and is readily accessible to the general reader.

Prologue
Modern conceptions of creativity
The focus of this book
Part I. Perspective: 1. Genius and creativity: historical perspective of theory and research
2. Methods used in research on productive creators
Part II. The Creative Person: 3. Social background
4. The home environment
5. Education and career
6. Characteristics of creative achievers
7. The creator's motivation
8. The developmental pattern
Part III. Creative Thinking and Inspiration: 9. Stages in creative problem-solving
10. Specific abilities and processes involved in creative problem-solving
11. Traditional views of the role of unconscious processes
12. Unconscious processing and inspiration: a new interpretation
Epilogue
References
Indexes.

Subject Areas: Popular psychology [VSP], Cognition & cognitive psychology [JMR]