Our Innovating Minds

The Many Origins of Creative Thought and Action.

Humor

Creative Emotional Re-Interpretation and Insightful Change

Wilma Koutstaal Ph.D. on January 2, 2022

Making the connections between emotional reappraisal, creative insight, and humor.

Making the connections between emotional reappraisal, creative insight, and humor.

Creativity

Getting Creative by Striving for Excellence vs. Perfection

Wilma Koutstaal Ph.D. on October 26, 2021

Striving for excellence—but not for perfection—is positively linked with creative idea generation and openness to experience.

Striving for excellence—but not for perfection—is positively linked with creative idea generation and openness to experience.

Leadership

Boosting Entrepreneurial Success Through Decision Weaving

Wilma Koutstaal Ph.D. on July 30, 2021

Combatting entrepreneurial uncertainty and complexity through decision weaving.

Combatting entrepreneurial uncertainty and complexity through decision weaving.

Creativity

The Creative Cliff Illusion: What It Is and What to Do About It

Wilma Koutstaal Ph.D. on June 8, 2021

Don't give up on your creative search too soon.

Don't give up on your creative search too soon.

Creativity

Time Pressure and the Trying Trajectory of Team Creativity

Wilma Koutstaal Ph.D. on May 10, 2021

It's important to recognize the many forms of project time and how they influence team creativity.

It's important to recognize the many forms of project time and how they influence team creativity.

Creativity

Innovative Leaps and Loops in Idea Space

Wilma Koutstaal Ph.D. on April 4, 2021

The breakthrough power of bridging from novelty to the known.

The breakthrough power of bridging from novelty to the known.

Memory

Creative Imagination: Inside and Outside the Head

Wilma Koutstaal Ph.D. on January 13, 2021

The many forms of creative imagination.

The many forms of creative imagination.

Career

Putting Forgetting to Creative Work

Wilma Koutstaal Ph.D. on August 6, 2020

Forgetting or unlearning to promote positive change.

Forgetting or unlearning to promote positive change.

Personality

Personality and Change: Is Our Personality Really Fixed?

Wilma Koutstaal Ph.D. on May 25, 2020

How fixed is our "personality," really?

How fixed is our "personality," really?

Creativity

Team-to-Team Innovation Learning in Science

Wilma Koutstaal Ph.D. on March 29, 2020

Changing cultures and expectations to advance creative scientific progress.

Changing cultures and expectations to advance creative scientific progress.

Motivation

It's Up to You: Choice Catalyzes Curiosity

Wilma Koutstaal Ph.D. on January 4, 2020

When is a choice yours, when does it feel like yours, and why does it matter?

When is a choice yours, when does it feel like yours, and why does it matter?

Creativity

What's Your Problem? Innovating by Self-Imposing Constraints

Wilma Koutstaal Ph.D. on December 1, 2019

Do you change the shape of the creative problems you're facing by using voluntary constraints?

Do you change the shape of the creative problems you're facing by using voluntary constraints?

Motivation

Can Walking Together Help Creatively Synchronize Our Goals?

Wilma Koutstaal Ph.D. on November 3, 2019

Using motion to get past commotion? Putting walking to work.

Using motion to get past commotion? Putting walking to work.

Play

What Drives Play

Wilma Koutstaal Ph.D. on September 19, 2019

Part 2: The joys of play that we share with young creatures.

Part 2: The joys of play that we share with young creatures.

Play

What Drives Play and the Motivation of Playing Just to Play?

Wilma Koutstaal Ph.D. on September 18, 2019

Part 1: Bringing more play into the study of play.

Part 1: Bringing more play into the study of play.

Procrastination

Combating the Creative Barrier of Precrastination

Wilma Koutstaal Ph.D. on June 13, 2019

Are you a victim of precrastination? A creative response often takes time!

Are you a victim of precrastination? A creative response often takes time!

Dopamine

What Prompts Us to Come Up With Varied Creative Options?

Wilma Koutstaal Ph.D. on April 7, 2019

Where do flexibly new creative options come from?

Where do flexibly new creative options come from?

Motivation

How Re-Playing Can Help Us Reach Our Goals

Wilma Koutstaal Ph.D. on January 31, 2019

Having a clear understanding of our goals for each iteration also may make the process especially productive.

Having a clear understanding of our goals for each iteration also may make the process especially productive.

Play

The Unique Value of Perspective-Taking

Wilma Koutstaal Ph.D. on December 19, 2018

What can we learn from seeing the world through a child's point of view?

What can we learn from seeing the world through a child's point of view?

Motivation

What Keeps Us Going Creatively When the Going Gets Tough?

Wilma Koutstaal Ph.D. on November 11, 2018

How to creatively set your big picture and small step goals

How to creatively set your big picture and small step goals