Theories of Creativity

This article surveys the range of contemporary theories of creativity. These are heuristically divided into ten categories: developmental, psychometric, economic, stage and componential process, cognitive, problem solving and expertise-based, problem finding, evolutionary, typological, and systems. These perspectives span a range of subtopics, levels of analysis, and emphases within the study of creativity. Beyond the general overview, prospects for the future role and development of theories of creativity are discussed, offering a critical but hopefully constructive appraisal of current theories and their promise for a continued deeper understanding of the nature of creativity.