Creativity on command

In the ongoing debate between nature and nurture, between biological determinism and behaviourism, behaviourists maintain that an individual has little control over inspiration and creativity and is a mere helpless recipient, waiting to be shaped and filled by positive or negative socialization. Contemporary social psychologists, on the other hand, build on genetic influences and tell us that a person’s social environment can activate potential. Since family socialization is critical to development of the child’s core identity, we seem to be condemning a person who fails to receive adequate love and nurturing. The truth lies somewhere in between. However, if we define “creativity” as the ability of a writer-reporter to uniquely configure a person or situation so that elements of the seemingly insignificant stand for the whole, then perhaps creativity can be cultivated by careful, thoughtful instruction and willing self-discipline.