there’s this moment from Sponge Bob Squarepants that I’ve always found to be
Squarepants that I’ve always found to be
Squarepants that I’ve always found to be extraordinarily interesting there with
extraordinarily interesting there with
extraordinarily interesting there with me so it’s from season 2 episode 15
me so it’s from season 2 episode 15
me so it’s from season 2 episode 15 Squidward is teaching all the residents
Squidward is teaching all the residents
Squidward is teaching all the residents of Bikini Bottom how to be in a marching
of Bikini Bottom how to be in a marching
of Bikini Bottom how to be in a marching band you know reading music and playing
band you know reading music and playing
band you know reading music and playing instruments and all that jazz and it’s
instruments and all that jazz and it’s
instruments and all that jazz and it’s going great until one of them well one
going great until one of them well one
going great until one of them well one of them has a question so patrick stars
of them has a question so patrick stars
of them has a question so patrick stars one Tom’s best friend he puts his hand
one Tom’s best friend he puts his hand
one Tom’s best friend he puts his hand in the air he puts his hand to the air
in the air he puts his hand to the air
in the air he puts his hand to the air and then he very enthusiastically asks
and then he very enthusiastically asks
and then he very enthusiastically asks is mayonnaise an instrument well is it
is mayonnaise an instrument well is it
is mayonnaise an instrument well is it the time I had no idea but I wanted to
the time I had no idea but I wanted to
the time I had no idea but I wanted to so me being the young annoying little
so me being the young annoying little
so me being the young annoying little scientist that I was I decided to
scientist that I was I decided to
scientist that I was I decided to investigate so I grabbed a spoon and a
investigate so I grabbed a spoon and a
investigate so I grabbed a spoon and a jar of mayo from the fridge and I
jar of mayo from the fridge and I
jar of mayo from the fridge and I started banging it out literally I made
started banging it out literally I made
started banging it out literally I made at the time what I believe to be
at the time what I believe to be
at the time what I believe to be beautiful music but was probably more of
beautiful music but was probably more of
beautiful music but was probably more of a cacophony the point is then as a
a cacophony the point is then as a
a cacophony the point is then as a psychologist then as a child and now as
psychologist then as a child and now as
psychologist then as a child and now as a psychologist I understood that that
a psychologist I understood that that
a psychologist I understood that that moment that question was always more
moment that question was always more
moment that question was always more than just a joke from a cartoon or an
than just a joke from a cartoon or an
than just a joke from a cartoon or an internet meme no that question is also
internet meme no that question is also
internet meme no that question is also the most profound example of creativity
the most profound example of creativity
the most profound example of creativity that I’ve ever seen now you all know
that I’ve ever seen now you all know
that I’ve ever seen now you all know what creativity is right I mean you
what creativity is right I mean you
what creativity is right I mean you might not be able to define it in words
might not be able to define it in words
might not be able to define it in words but you have a general idea of what it
but you have a general idea of what it
but you have a general idea of what it means to be creative well you’re wrong I
means to be creative well you’re wrong I
means to be creative well you’re wrong I hate to break it to you but you’re wrong
hate to break it to you but you’re wrong
hate to break it to you but you’re wrong now don’t worry I’m wrong too
now don’t worry I’m wrong too
now don’t worry I’m wrong too I’ve been collecting data about how
I’ve been collecting data about how
I’ve been collecting data about how people come up with ideas for almost a
people come up with ideas for almost a
people come up with ideas for almost a year now and the more and more I look at
year now and the more and more I look at
year now and the more and more I look at the more and more I realize just how
the more and more I realize just how
the more and more I realize just how wrong I am creativity is so much less
wrong I am creativity is so much less
wrong I am creativity is so much less than what we think it’s so much simpler
than what we think it’s so much simpler
than what we think it’s so much simpler so much
so much
so much I’m getting ahead of myself I have moved
I’m getting ahead of myself I have moved
I’m getting ahead of myself I have moved away from the question what is
away from the question what is
away from the question what is creativity no the far more interesting
creativity no the far more interesting
creativity no the far more interesting question the far more potent question is
question the far more potent question is
question the far more potent question is actually what isn’t creativity and the
actually what isn’t creativity and the
actually what isn’t creativity and the first thing creativity isn’t is
first thing creativity isn’t is
first thing creativity isn’t is associative at least in the traditional
associative at least in the traditional
associative at least in the traditional way this is something called an
way this is something called an
way this is something called an associative semantic network it was
associative semantic network it was
associative semantic network it was first proposed by Elizabeth Loftus and
first proposed by Elizabeth Loftus and
first proposed by Elizabeth Loftus and Alan Collins in the 70s and it’s
Alan Collins in the 70s and it’s
Alan Collins in the 70s and it’s basically a way of understanding how we
basically a way of understanding how we
basically a way of understanding how we store our ideas and more importantly how
store our ideas and more importantly how
store our ideas and more importantly how we retrieve our ideas because
we retrieve our ideas because
we retrieve our ideas because information actually spreads along this
information actually spreads along this
information actually spreads along this web through their research we are able
web through their research we are able
web through their research we are able to understand that for example if I were
to understand that for example if I were
to understand that for example if I were to say the word mayonnaise you are
to say the word mayonnaise you are
to say the word mayonnaise you are instantly more able to think of the word
instantly more able to think of the word
instantly more able to think of the word egg or white or creamy or jar or mustard
egg or white or creamy or jar or mustard
egg or white or creamy or jar or mustard or whatever you happen to associate with
or whatever you happen to associate with
or whatever you happen to associate with mayonnaise for me it’s inedible
mayonnaise for me it’s inedible
mayonnaise for me it’s inedible gelatinous goo but maybe that’s just me
gelatinous goo but maybe that’s just me
gelatinous goo but maybe that’s just me so when a normal person would come up
so when a normal person would come up
so when a normal person would come up with a new musical instrument they might
with a new musical instrument they might
with a new musical instrument they might stay within this network they might
stay within this network they might
stay within this network they might modify an existing instrument like
modify an existing instrument like
modify an existing instrument like taking a tuba and making it smaller into
taking a tuba and making it smaller into
taking a tuba and making it smaller into a baritone which incidentally is the
a baritone which incidentally is the
a baritone which incidentally is the instrument I happen to play in high
instrument I happen to play in high
instrument I happen to play in high school band class or you might combine
school band class or you might combine
school band class or you might combine aspects of instruments together like an
aspects of instruments together like an
aspects of instruments together like an electric guitar which is the instrument
electric guitar which is the instrument
electric guitar which is the instrument I could have played in high school band
I could have played in high school band
I could have played in high school band class but when people think they usually
class but when people think they usually
class but when people think they usually don’t go beyond this network but that’s
don’t go beyond this network but that’s
don’t go beyond this network but that’s exactly what Patrick does is mayonnaise
exactly what Patrick does is mayonnaise
exactly what Patrick does is mayonnaise an instrument thoughts of mayonnaise
an instrument thoughts of mayonnaise
an instrument thoughts of mayonnaise don’t trigger thoughts of music and
don’t trigger thoughts of music and
don’t trigger thoughts of music and thoughts of music don’t trigger thoughts
thoughts of music don’t trigger thoughts
thoughts of music don’t trigger thoughts of mayonnaise but nevertheless he still
of mayonnaise but nevertheless he still
of mayonnaise but nevertheless he still asked that question and that question is
asked that question and that question is
asked that question and that question is itself a rebellion against this way of
itself a rebellion against this way of
itself a rebellion against this way of thinking against this semantic network
thinking against this semantic network
thinking against this semantic network it’s a rejection of thoughts that we
it’s a rejection of thoughts that we
it’s a rejection of thoughts that we have preconceived notions and
have preconceived notions and
have preconceived notions and traditional Association
traditional Association
traditional Association that’s why it’s bold that’s why it’s
that’s why it’s bold that’s why it’s
that’s why it’s bold that’s why it’s creative but now there’s a reason that
creative but now there’s a reason that
creative but now there’s a reason that such a simple question just four little
such a simple question just four little
such a simple question just four little words are able to be so creative and
words are able to be so creative and
words are able to be so creative and that’s because number two creativity
that’s because number two creativity
that’s because number two creativity isn’t complicated this very University
isn’t complicated this very University
isn’t complicated this very University demonstrates the exact same thing we’re
demonstrates the exact same thing we’re
demonstrates the exact same thing we’re known for our unique se prompts the ones
known for our unique se prompts the ones
known for our unique se prompts the ones we give to prospective students here’s
we give to prospective students here’s
we give to prospective students here’s one for example what does Plato have to
one for example what does Plato have to
one for example what does Plato have to do with Plato
do with Plato
do with Plato well for starters one of them is a
well for starters one of them is a
well for starters one of them is a children’s toy and the other is the most
children’s toy and the other is the most
children’s toy and the other is the most ancient philosopher that we know of and
ancient philosopher that we know of and
ancient philosopher that we know of and it’s the same thing as with Patrick’s
it’s the same thing as with Patrick’s
it’s the same thing as with Patrick’s question Plato Plato music mayonnaise
question Plato Plato music mayonnaise
question Plato Plato music mayonnaise same connection but it has one more
same connection but it has one more
same connection but it has one more commonality that connection is simple it
commonality that connection is simple it
commonality that connection is simple it doesn’t ask you to reinvent a children’s
doesn’t ask you to reinvent a children’s
doesn’t ask you to reinvent a children’s toy doesn’t ask you to make a profound
toy doesn’t ask you to make a profound
toy doesn’t ask you to make a profound claim about the origins of philosophy
claim about the origins of philosophy
claim about the origins of philosophy Patrick doesn’t hand you a blueprint for
Patrick doesn’t hand you a blueprint for
Patrick doesn’t hand you a blueprint for an instrument he doesn’t tell you what
an instrument he doesn’t tell you what
an instrument he doesn’t tell you what it would look like or sound like or how
it would look like or sound like or how
it would look like or sound like or how he played no they just make that
he played no they just make that
he played no they just make that connection creativity doesn’t need many
connection creativity doesn’t need many
connection creativity doesn’t need many moving parts in order to function well
moving parts in order to function well
moving parts in order to function well it doesn’t need complexity at all
it doesn’t need complexity at all
it doesn’t need complexity at all creativity’s existence it’s predicated
creativity’s existence it’s predicated
creativity’s existence it’s predicated on its own existence that brings us to
on its own existence that brings us to
on its own existence that brings us to number three creativity isn’t practical
number three creativity isn’t practical
number three creativity isn’t practical what are the most common ways the
what are the most common ways the
what are the most common ways the psychologists test for creativity is
psychologists test for creativity is
psychologists test for creativity is called the alternative uses tasks
called the alternative uses tasks
called the alternative uses tasks basically we get people an everyday
basically we get people an everyday
basically we get people an everyday object a pencil a paperclip a towel
object a pencil a paperclip a towel
object a pencil a paperclip a towel whatever and then we ask them to come up
whatever and then we ask them to come up
whatever and then we ask them to come up with as many ideas as they can for that
with as many ideas as they can for that
with as many ideas as they can for that object here is it an anonymous person’s
object here is it an anonymous person’s
object here is it an anonymous person’s answers for a brick and yeah you can see
answers for a brick and yeah you can see
answers for a brick and yeah you can see that some of these are practical
that some of these are practical
that some of these are practical you know using as a weight or a weapon
you know using as a weight or a weapon
you know using as a weight or a weapon or whatever but then you look at some of
or whatever but then you look at some of
or whatever but then you look at some of the more interesting ideas using a brick
the more interesting ideas using a brick
the more interesting ideas using a brick as a piece of Modern Art a croquet ball
as a piece of Modern Art a croquet ball
as a piece of Modern Art a croquet ball a teddy bear as a Barbie’s coffin let me
a teddy bear as a Barbie’s coffin let me
a teddy bear as a Barbie’s coffin let me ask you this how many of you have gone
ask you this how many of you have gone
ask you this how many of you have gone up to a six year old child handed them a
up to a six year old child handed them a
up to a six year old child handed them a brick and told them that it was the
brick and told them that it was the
brick and told them that it was the coffin of their doll I’m guessing not
coffin of their doll I’m guessing not
coffin of their doll I’m guessing not many when people trying to think of
many when people trying to think of
many when people trying to think of ideas when they really dig down into it
ideas when they really dig down into it
ideas when they really dig down into it they ignore practicality they ignore
they ignore practicality they ignore
they ignore practicality they ignore whether or not it could or could not
whether or not it could or could not
whether or not it could or could not exist in the real world and
exist in the real world and
exist in the real world and psychologists do too when researchers
psychologists do too when researchers
psychologists do too when researchers like myself look at data like these we
like myself look at data like these we
like myself look at data like these we don’t code it for practicality or
don’t code it for practicality or
don’t code it for practicality or realism we look at the originality yes
realism we look at the originality yes
realism we look at the originality yes we look at the number of ideas yes but
we look at the number of ideas yes but
we look at the number of ideas yes but we don’t care about the practicality
we don’t care about the practicality
we don’t care about the practicality that’s because practicality and
that’s because practicality and
that’s because practicality and creativity have nothing to do with each
creativity have nothing to do with each
creativity have nothing to do with each other now we’re on to number four
other now we’re on to number four
other now we’re on to number four creativity isn’t communal although a
creativity isn’t communal although a
creativity isn’t communal although a brainstorming is right you know a bunch
brainstorming is right you know a bunch
brainstorming is right you know a bunch of creative types huddled in a room with
of creative types huddled in a room with
of creative types huddled in a room with a whiteboard mark with a white board and
a whiteboard mark with a white board and
a whiteboard mark with a white board and the expo marker and they’re all
the expo marker and they’re all
the expo marker and they’re all scribbling out their ideas as fast as
scribbling out their ideas as fast as
scribbling out their ideas as fast as they can
they can
they can shouting them out interrupting each
shouting them out interrupting each
shouting them out interrupting each other well that’s great but it’s not
other well that’s great but it’s not
other well that’s great but it’s not creative it’s a different thing it’s
creative it’s a different thing it’s
creative it’s a different thing it’s brainstorming a 1991 meta-analysis by
brainstorming a 1991 meta-analysis by
brainstorming a 1991 meta-analysis by Brian bullen and Craig Johnson shows
Brian bullen and Craig Johnson shows
Brian bullen and Craig Johnson shows that as the number of people in a group
that as the number of people in a group
that as the number of people in a group goes up the number of ideas goes down
goes up the number of ideas goes down
goes up the number of ideas goes down and the people who have the best ideas
and the people who have the best ideas
and the people who have the best ideas the people who have the most creative
the people who have the most creative
the people who have the most creative ideas the ones that impress researchers
ideas the ones that impress researchers
ideas the ones that impress researchers the most well they actually worked alone
the most well they actually worked alone
the most well they actually worked alone the researchers go as far to say that
the researchers go as far to say that
the researchers go as far to say that the long live popularity of
the long live popularity of
the long live popularity of brainstorming techniques is
brainstorming techniques is
brainstorming techniques is unequivocally and substantially
unequivocally and substantially
unequivocally and substantially misguided well why then do we do it why
misguided well why then do we do it why
misguided well why then do we do it why do we work in groups well the answer is
do we work in groups well the answer is
do we work in groups well the answer is very simple
very simple
very simple it’s fun people really enjoy being
it’s fun people really enjoy being
it’s fun people really enjoy being collaborative and talking to other
collaborative and talking to other
collaborative and talking to other people but you have to keep in mind that
people but you have to keep in mind that
people but you have to keep in mind that when other people around you your
when other people around you your
when other people around you your creative output is diminished when you
creative output is diminished when you
creative output is diminished when you have an idea in your brain and you know
have an idea in your brain and you know
have an idea in your brain and you know that it’s going to be judged implicitly
that it’s going to be judged implicitly
that it’s going to be judged implicitly or explicitly you’re less likely to
or explicitly you’re less likely to
or explicitly you’re less likely to voice it my favorite example of this is
voice it my favorite example of this is
voice it my favorite example of this is actually Tycho Brahe hey he’s this
actually Tycho Brahe hey he’s this
actually Tycho Brahe hey he’s this Danish astronomer who used stellar
Danish astronomer who used stellar
Danish astronomer who used stellar parallax without the aid of a telescope
parallax without the aid of a telescope
parallax without the aid of a telescope essentially he looked into the heavens
essentially he looked into the heavens
essentially he looked into the heavens and measured the distances between stars
and measured the distances between stars
and measured the distances between stars in the sky and a 1572 supernova and he
in the sky and a 1572 supernova and he
in the sky and a 1572 supernova and he correctly concluded that the Stars and
correctly concluded that the Stars and
correctly concluded that the Stars and the heavens are actually further away
the heavens are actually further away
the heavens are actually further away from us than the moon I know it sounds
from us than the moon I know it sounds
from us than the moon I know it sounds obvious but at the time this was
obvious but at the time this was
obvious but at the time this was revolutionary that the universe could
revolutionary that the universe could
revolutionary that the universe could exist beyond our solar system famously
exist beyond our solar system famously
exist beyond our solar system famously he came to this creative idea alone he
he came to this creative idea alone he
he came to this creative idea alone he holed himself up inside a city outside
holed himself up inside a city outside
holed himself up inside a city outside of his castle event he ignored the
of his castle event he ignored the
of his castle event he ignored the advice and research of other scientists
advice and research of other scientists
advice and research of other scientists including his own fever pupil Johannes
including his own fever pupil Johannes
including his own fever pupil Johannes Kepler his creativity sprung in part due
Kepler his creativity sprung in part due
Kepler his creativity sprung in part due to his isolation now I want to make one
to his isolation now I want to make one
to his isolation now I want to make one thing clear I’m not trying to say that
thing clear I’m not trying to say that
thing clear I’m not trying to say that we should all be Hermits I’m not trying
we should all be Hermits I’m not trying
we should all be Hermits I’m not trying to say we should holo cells up inside
to say we should holo cells up inside
to say we should holo cells up inside castles or literally or figuratively
castles or literally or figuratively
castles or literally or figuratively live under a rock that’s not what I’m
live under a rock that’s not what I’m
live under a rock that’s not what I’m saying I am advocating for a step back
saying I am advocating for a step back
saying I am advocating for a step back if you’re in a group you know with your
if you’re in a group you know with your
if you’re in a group you know with your co-workers or teammates or whatever you
co-workers or teammates or whatever you
co-workers or teammates or whatever you need to acknowledge the fact that their
need to acknowledge the fact that their
need to acknowledge the fact that their presence changes what you’re going to
presence changes what you’re going to
presence changes what you’re going to say maybe that involves writing down on
say maybe that involves writing down on
say maybe that involves writing down on a piece of paper all that you have to
a piece of paper all that you have to
a piece of paper all that you have to offer really thinking about what ideas
offer really thinking about what ideas
offer really thinking about what ideas are yours and what ideas are others
are yours and what ideas are others
are yours and what ideas are others because creativity is a personal process
because creativity is a personal process
because creativity is a personal process not a collective one finally
not a collective one finally
not a collective one finally we’re on to number five creativity isn’t
we’re on to number five creativity isn’t
we’re on to number five creativity isn’t abnormal it’s not this mythical concept
abnormal it’s not this mythical concept
abnormal it’s not this mythical concept only employed by artists and scientists
only employed by artists and scientists
only employed by artists and scientists and tortured geniuses no everyone has it
and tortured geniuses no everyone has it
and tortured geniuses no everyone has it it’s a process not a product and it’s a
it’s a process not a product and it’s a
it’s a process not a product and it’s a process that we all have in the words of
process that we all have in the words of
process that we all have in the words of Francis Picabia an artist known for
Francis Picabia an artist known for
Francis Picabia an artist known for switching styles constantly our heads
switching styles constantly our heads
switching styles constantly our heads are round so our thoughts can change
are round so our thoughts can change
are round so our thoughts can change direction we all have the ability to
direction we all have the ability to
direction we all have the ability to change the channel it’s just a matter of
change the channel it’s just a matter of
change the channel it’s just a matter of doing it so for all that creativity
doing it so for all that creativity
doing it so for all that creativity isn’t here’s what it is it’s a
isn’t here’s what it is it’s a
isn’t here’s what it is it’s a connection between concept a and concept
connection between concept a and concept
connection between concept a and concept B it’s this thin imaginary line drawn
B it’s this thin imaginary line drawn
B it’s this thin imaginary line drawn between two disparate ideas that’s it
between two disparate ideas that’s it
between two disparate ideas that’s it it’s unburdened by practicality and
it’s unburdened by practicality and
it’s unburdened by practicality and realism and what could or could not
realism and what could or could not
realism and what could or could not exist it is unburdened by traditional
exist it is unburdened by traditional
exist it is unburdened by traditional associations and what other people think
associations and what other people think
associations and what other people think and complexity it just is no here’s what
and complexity it just is no here’s what
and complexity it just is no here’s what this means that means that the vast
this means that means that the vast
this means that means that the vast majority of creative ideas aren’t going
majority of creative ideas aren’t going
majority of creative ideas aren’t going to cause paradigm shifts they’re not
to cause paradigm shifts they’re not
to cause paradigm shifts they’re not going to cause revolutions and they’re
going to cause revolutions and they’re
going to cause revolutions and they’re not going to invent new gadgets no the
not going to invent new gadgets no the
not going to invent new gadgets no the vast vast majority of creative ideas
vast vast majority of creative ideas
vast vast majority of creative ideas that flit across your brain so quickly
that flit across your brain so quickly
that flit across your brain so quickly are going to be tossed aside they are
are going to be tossed aside they are
are going to be tossed aside they are utterly and completely meaningless but
utterly and completely meaningless but
utterly and completely meaningless but don’t think for a second that doesn’t
don’t think for a second that doesn’t
don’t think for a second that doesn’t mean they’re not worthwhile don’t think
mean they’re not worthwhile don’t think
mean they’re not worthwhile don’t think for a second that questions like
for a second that questions like
for a second that questions like Patrick’s shouldn’t be asked or
Patrick’s shouldn’t be asked or
Patrick’s shouldn’t be asked or questions like you Chicago’s should it
questions like you Chicago’s should it
questions like you Chicago’s should it be answered
because creativity is not a painting
because creativity is not a painting hidden in a gallery no it’s the artist
hidden in a gallery no it’s the artist
hidden in a gallery no it’s the artist standing in front of a blank canvas
standing in front of a blank canvas
standing in front of a blank canvas paint brush in hand
paint brush in hand
paint brush in hand simultaneously imagining the every
simultaneously imagining the every
simultaneously imagining the every single brush stroke she could possibly
single brush stroke she could possibly
single brush stroke she could possibly paint creativity is not the moment
paint creativity is not the moment
paint creativity is not the moment you’re giving a presentation to your
you’re giving a presentation to your
you’re giving a presentation to your co-workers or to your teammates it’s the
co-workers or to your teammates it’s the
co-workers or to your teammates it’s the night before when you’re in the shower
night before when you’re in the shower
night before when you’re in the shower shampooing your hair and you just let
shampooing your hair and you just let
shampooing your hair and you just let what could or could not work but people
what could or could not work but people
what could or could not work but people might or might not think just wash away
might or might not think just wash away
might or might not think just wash away and let your ideas amalgamate I will and
and let your ideas amalgamate I will and
and let your ideas amalgamate I will and creativity is an anthropomorphic pink
creativity is an anthropomorphic pink
creativity is an anthropomorphic pink starfish who not so jokingly asked an
starfish who not so jokingly asked an
starfish who not so jokingly asked an impossible question and creativity is
impossible question and creativity is
impossible question and creativity is the child at home watching and thinking
thinking of a possible answer thank you
thinking of a possible answer thank you [Applause]
”
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