Verified by Psychology Today

And All That Jazz

A creativity researcher's take on the highs and lows of pop culture and the arts.

Creativity
When the Creativity Researcher Goes Back to Being Creative

James C Kaufman Ph.D. on August 17, 2015

For half of me, this is a dream come true. I’m revisiting my musical and reworking the script with my director Valeria and rewriting some songs with my composer Michael. The other half of me is feeling impostor syndrome for the first time since grad school – what the hell am I doing?

For half of me, this is a dream come true. I’m revisiting my musical and reworking the script with my director Valeria and rewriting some songs with my composer Michael. The other half of me is feeling impostor syndrome for the first time since grad school – what the hell am I doing?

Creativity
From Creative Writing to Studying Creativity

James C Kaufman Ph.D. on April 22, 2013

I ended up applying my passion in creativity to the psychological realm, where I would like to think I have had a larger impact than if I were still working on my stories and plays.

I ended up applying my passion in creativity to the psychological realm, where I would like to think I have had a larger impact than if I were still working on my stories and plays.

Creativity
Peter Pan and Growing Up

James C Kaufman Ph.D. on March 30, 2013

If we believe in fairies, Tinkerbell lives. If we believe in an education system that keeps creativity alive, can Wendy, Tootles, and the rest hold onto some of their spark?

If we believe in fairies, Tinkerbell lives. If we believe in an education system that keeps creativity alive, can Wendy, Tootles, and the rest hold onto some of their spark?

Intelligence
When it's good to leave money on the table

James C Kaufman Ph.D. on October 11, 2011

Leaving "money on the table" is bad for businesses. But not knowing the difference between "money on the table" and "needed incentives" is even worse.

Leaving "money on the table" is bad for businesses. But not knowing the difference between "money on the table" and "needed incentives" is even worse.

Relationships
Entering IMDb into Evidence? From CSI to being CSI'ed

James C Kaufman Ph.D. on June 7, 2011

An IMDb page can be many things - a source of information, promotion, entertainment, or amusement. But rarely have I seen an IMDb page that seems like a harbinger of bad things to come.

An IMDb page can be many things - a source of information, promotion, entertainment, or amusement. But rarely have I seen an IMDb page that seems like a harbinger of bad things to come.

Career
Secret Confessions of an Academic Psychologist

James C Kaufman Ph.D. on June 3, 2011

People make some basic assumptions about the basic ability of an academic psychologist to function in society (and even have a certain modicum of smarts). I am the outlier.

People make some basic assumptions about the basic ability of an academic psychologist to function in society (and even have a certain modicum of smarts). I am the outlier.

Creativity
Too much novelty, not enough appropriateness

James C Kaufman Ph.D. on February 23, 2011

Creativity is usually thought to be both new and appropriate to the task. When creativity has too much new and not enough appropriate, some glorious blunders can happen. Take the story of Hacienda, a Mexican restaurant in South Bend, Indian, whose new billboard proclaims: "We're like a cult with better Kool-Aid."

Creativity is usually thought to be both new and appropriate to the task. When creativity has too much new and not enough appropriate, some glorious blunders can happen. Take the story of Hacienda, a Mexican restaurant in South Bend, Indian, whose new billboard proclaims: "We're like a cult with better Kool-Aid."

Media
A Must Read: The Invisible Gorilla

James C Kaufman Ph.D. on September 10, 2010

To see the invisible gorilla: A review of Chabris and Simons' The Invisible Gorilla, my first must-read psychology book in years.

To see the invisible gorilla: A review of Chabris and Simons' The Invisible Gorilla, my first must-read psychology book in years.

Parenting
Revisiting loud children in public places

James C Kaufman Ph.D. on September 9, 2010

A while back, I wrote a blog called (a bit dramatically), Why does our society hate children? Unlike most of other blogs, which are about creativity, this one kind of "took off" (in the "a lot of people read it" sense). My point was that we are often strikingly mean and insensitive to parents with small children in public places.My point is not to dredge up the original topic but to expand on my thoughts, triggered by another recent news article. Specifically:"Screaming Children Will NOT Be Tolerated!" say placards posted at the Olde Salty restaurant in Carolina Beach. N.C... 

A while back, I wrote a blog called (a bit dramatically), Why does our society hate children? Unlike most of other blogs, which are about creativity, this one kind of "took off" (in the "a lot of people read it" sense). My point was that we are often strikingly mean and insensitive to parents with small children in public places.My point is not to dredge up the original topic but to expand on my thoughts, triggered by another recent news article. Specifically:"Screaming Children Will NOT Be Tolerated!" say placards posted at the Olde Salty restaurant in Carolina Beach. N.C... 

Sport and Competition
Armando Galarraga: Not Perfect, But Divine

James C Kaufman Ph.D. on June 3, 2010

If you aren't a baseball fan, then this column probably won't be terribly interesting. But I will tell you (at the end, after you click through) a magnificent video of Alan Moore's The Watchmen done as a 1980's Saturday Morning Cartoon.

If you aren't a baseball fan, then this column probably won't be terribly interesting. But I will tell you (at the end, after you click through) a magnificent video of Alan Moore's The Watchmen done as a 1980's Saturday Morning Cartoon.

Freudian Psychology
The Man Who Taught Me How to Teach

James C Kaufman Ph.D. on April 30, 2010

My favorite professor from graduate school taught me how to be a professor. His name was William Kessen, and I had the good fortune of taking one of his very last classes. Taking his class on teaching undergraduate psychology changed my view of the classroom.

My favorite professor from graduate school taught me how to be a professor. His name was William Kessen, and I had the good fortune of taking one of his very last classes. Taking his class on teaching undergraduate psychology changed my view of the classroom.

Ethics and Morality
Constance McMillen vs. Itawamba Agricultural High School: Evil Creativity vs. Good Morality

James C Kaufman Ph.D. on April 6, 2010

Creativity is not always reserved for the good, nice, and just.Imagine if next year the good folks of the Itawamba County School Board are faced with new horrors. Perhaps an interracial couple wants to attend prom, or someone in a wheelchair wants new ramps built in the gym so he or she can attend as well. If the parents decide to host two alternate proms again, one for the different people and one for the All Americans, they will be less likely to succeed. The novelty will have worn off.

Creativity is not always reserved for the good, nice, and just.Imagine if next year the good folks of the Itawamba County School Board are faced with new horrors. Perhaps an interracial couple wants to attend prom, or someone in a wheelchair wants new ramps built in the gym so he or she can attend as well. If the parents decide to host two alternate proms again, one for the different people and one for the All Americans, they will be less likely to succeed. The novelty will have worn off.

Psych Careers
“There’s no stat yet that measures heart." Or any test, either.

James C Kaufman Ph.D. on March 29, 2010

Joe Posnaski - an outstanding on-line baseball writer, one of the very best - has an interesting column where he riffs off of a Nomar Garciaparra quote: There's no stat yet that measures heart.Just as Joe riffed on Garciaparra, I'd like to riff a bit on Joe's blog. I think he offers a wonderful (if likely unintentional) metaphor for a student's GRE scores and their GPA.

Joe Posnaski - an outstanding on-line baseball writer, one of the very best - has an interesting column where he riffs off of a Nomar Garciaparra quote: There's no stat yet that measures heart.Just as Joe riffed on Garciaparra, I'd like to riff a bit on Joe's blog. I think he offers a wonderful (if likely unintentional) metaphor for a student's GRE scores and their GPA.

Anger
A Creativity Researcher's Thoughts on the Oscars

James C Kaufman Ph.D. on March 9, 2010

I've always liked Michael Giacchino, composer of Pixar movies and Lost; now, I love him. In a brief speech, he articulated nearly everything I know about how to encourage creativity:

When I was nine and I asked my dad, "Can I have your movie camera? That old, wind-up 8 millimeter camera that was in your drawer?" And he goes, "Sure, take it." And I took it and I started making movies with it and I started being as creative as I could, and never once in my life did my parents ever say, "What you're doing is a waste of time." Never. And I grew up, I had teachers, I had colleagues, I had people that I worked with all through my life who always told me what you're doing is not a waste of time. So that was normal to me that it was OK to do that. I know there are kids out there that don't have that support system so if you're out there and you're listening, listen to me: If you want to be creative, get out there and do it. It's not a waste of time. Do it. OK? Thank you.

I've always liked Michael Giacchino, composer of Pixar movies and Lost; now, I love him. In a brief speech, he articulated nearly everything I know about how to encourage creativity:

When I was nine and I asked my dad, "Can I have your movie camera? That old, wind-up 8 millimeter camera that was in your drawer?" And he goes, "Sure, take it." And I took it and I started making movies with it and I started being as creative as I could, and never once in my life did my parents ever say, "What you're doing is a waste of time." Never. And I grew up, I had teachers, I had colleagues, I had people that I worked with all through my life who always told me what you're doing is not a waste of time. So that was normal to me that it was OK to do that. I know there are kids out there that don't have that support system so if you're out there and you're listening, listen to me: If you want to be creative, get out there and do it. It's not a waste of time. Do it. OK? Thank you.

Personality
The Charlie Brown Theory of Personality

James C Kaufman Ph.D. on March 3, 2010

Charlie Brown is a model neurotic, while Snoopy is a classic extravert. See how each of the Charlie Brown characters map to the Five Factor Model of personality.

Charlie Brown is a model neurotic, while Snoopy is a classic extravert. See how each of the Charlie Brown characters map to the Five Factor Model of personality.