Science Can Make You More Creative!

Summary

Short Wave Podcast Summary: “Science Can Make You More Creative!”

Podcast Information:

• Title: Short Wave
• Host/Author: NPR
• Episode: Science Can Make You More Creative!
• Release Date: May 6, 2025
• Hosts: Emily Kwong and Regina Barber

Overview: In the May 6, 2025 episode of NPR's Short Wave, host Burleigh McCoy delves into the intriguing science of creativity with psychologist Zarana Ifcevic Pringle. Titled “Science Can Make You More Creative!”, the episode explores the nature of creativity, how it can be nurtured, and the psychological mechanisms that underpin creative thinking. Through engaging discussions, practical examples, and insightful research findings, the episode demystifies creativity, making it accessible to everyone.

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1. Introduction to Creativity and Zarana’s Journey ([01:35] - [04:17])

Burleigh McCoy opens the conversation by introducing Zarana Ifcevic Pringle, a psychologist who became fascinated with creativity during her undergraduate studies. Zarana recounts how she discovered that creative individuals often exhibit seemingly contradictory personality traits:

Zarana Ifcevic Pringle ([02:03]): “Creative individuals at times can be extroverted, other times very introverted. They can be playful but also very serious about their work, can seem naive and see things with fresh eyes, but also be very focused in their work.”

Over two decades of studying creativity, Zarana has debunked the myth that creativity is an innate trait reserved for the “Einsteins or Beyonces” of the world. She emphasizes that creativity exists on a continuum and can be developed:

Zarana Ifcevic Pringle ([02:23]): “...the idea that some people are creative and some people aren't. What scientists call a fixed mindset can stop creativity in its tracks.”

2. Understanding Fixed vs. Growth Mindset in Creativity ([02:23] - [04:17])

Zarana explains the concept of fixed mindset versus growth mindset in the context of creativity. A fixed mindset—the belief that creativity is an innate talent—can hinder individuals from attempting creative endeavors. In contrast, a growth mindset allows anyone to develop their creative abilities through effort and practice.

Zarana Ifcevic Pringle ([02:41]): “Oftentimes, just the fact that we don't think of ourselves as creative is going to prevent us from ever attempting it.”

3. The Continuum of Creativity: Big C, Mini C, and Pro C ([02:56] - [03:32])

Zarana introduces the framework of creativity existing on a continuum, categorized into three types:

• Big C Creators: Eminent creators who have a significant impact, such as Beyoncé or Einstein.
• Mini C Creativity: Everyday creative acts, like finding a unique way to learn times tables or gifting a friend a unique present.
• Pro C Creativity: Professional creativity applied in work contexts, such as designing software, writing a novel, or producing a science podcast.

Zarana Ifcevic Pringle ([02:56]): “Creativity exists on a continuum for what we call Mini C creativity in the process of learning.”

4. Measuring Creativity: Tests and Methods ([06:19] - [09:48])

The discussion shifts to how scientists study and measure creativity. Zarana outlines several methods:

• Divergent Thinking Tests: Participants are asked to think of as many uses as possible for a common object, such as a brick. The quantity and originality of responses are evaluated.

  Zarana Ifcevic Pringle ([06:29]): “An example of this test, probably the most frequently asked question is how do we use a simple everyday object in new and different ways?”

• Experience Sampling Method: Participants use smartphone apps that prompt them at random times to answer questions about their creative activities. The final creative output is then assessed by experts.

  Zarana Ifcevic Pringle ([08:20]): “We use our smartphones and their apps that send notifications at random times during the day to complete a series of questions...”

5. Creativity and Emotional Intelligence ([09:48] - [10:56])

Zarana emphasizes the role of emotional intelligence in fostering creativity. Understanding and managing emotions can enhance creative problem-solving.

Zarana Ifcevic Pringle ([10:06]): “Different emotions have these different connections between thinking and feeling. And if we know the connections about thinking and feeling, we can use it to our advantage.”

For instance, being happy can make a person more playful and open to unconventional ideas, while a subdued mood may enhance critical thinking.

Zarana Ifcevic Pringle ([10:21]): “If you are happy, you can now be playful. You are better able to think in ways that are original, that are going beyond what is obvious, that are unconventional.”

6. Overcoming Creative Blocks: The Candle Test ([10:56] - [12:49])

Burleigh introduces the concept of creative blocks and the candle test, a classic problem-solving exercise:

Zarana Ifcevic Pringle ([11:06]): “...the task that the person has is to affix this candle to the wall so that the wax does not drip on the table.”

The standard success rate for solving the candle test is around 20%. However, Zarana reveals a simple instruction change that boosts success to 80% by encouraging participants to reconstruct the problem:

Zarana Ifcevic Pringle ([12:14]): “The changes to present these materials as the box of thumbtacks, but saying a box and thumbtacks...”

This shift from viewing the items as a single unit to separate components allows for more creative solutions.

7. Strategies for Reconstructing Problems and Overcoming Blocks ([12:49] - [14:44])

Zarana shares her personal experience with creative blocks while writing her book. She overcame her block by physically rearranging her draft, which helped her see the problem from a new perspective:

Zarana Ifcevic Pringle ([13:08]): “I printed out my draft chapter that was not working and cut, physically cut with scissors, units of meaning and then started arranging them...”

She offers valuable strategies for listeners to manage creative blocks:

• Take a Break: Allow yourself time to step away from the problem.
• Reconstruct the Problem: Examine it differently to uncover new aspects.
• Adopt a Growth Mindset: Believe in your ability to overcome challenges and develop creativity.

Zarana Ifcevic Pringle ([13:24]): “It is important to start with the moment where we give ourselves a break...”

8. Conclusion and Further Resources ([14:44] - [14:51])

Burleigh thanks Zarana for sharing her insights on creativity. Zarana mentions her book, The Creativity Choice: The Science of Making Decisions to Turn Ideas into Actions, which offers readers practical advice on fostering creativity.

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Notable Quotes:

• Zarana Ifcevic Pringle ([02:03]): “Creative individuals at times can be extroverted, other times very introverted. They can be playful but also very serious about their work...”
• Zarana Ifcevic Pringle ([02:23]): “What scientists call a fixed mindset can stop creativity in its tracks.”
• Zarana Ifcevic Pringle ([06:29]): “...how do we use a simple everyday object in new and different ways?”
• Zarana Ifcevic Pringle ([10:21]): “If you are happy, you can now be playful...”
• Zarana Ifcevic Pringle ([13:24]): “It is important to start with the moment where we give ourselves a break...”

Conclusion: This episode of Short Wave provides a comprehensive exploration of creativity, blending psychological theories with practical applications. Zarana Ifcevic Pringle underscores that creativity is not an exclusive trait but a skill that anyone can develop. By adopting a growth mindset, understanding the interplay between emotions and creativity, and employing strategic problem-solving techniques, listeners are empowered to unlock their creative potential.

For those interested in deepening their understanding, Zarana’s book, The Creativity Choice, is recommended as a valuable resource.

Transcript

[Emily Kwong]

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[Burleigh McCoy]

Hi short wavers. Burleigh McCoy filling the host chair today. And I'd like you to meet psychologist Zarana Ifcevic Pringle. When Zarana was an undergraduate, she was searching for a thesis topic to spark ideas. She was reading everything she could get her hands on, and she stumbled across work from the 1960s, during the space age, about creativity. She read that creative people often have personality traits that don't seem to go together.

[Zarana Ifcevic Pringle]

Creative individuals at times can be extroverted, other times very introverted. They can be playful but also very serious about their work, can seem naive and see things with fresh eyes, but also be very focused in their work.

[Burleigh McCoy]

In the two decades Zarana's been studying creativity, she's realized that even though creative people are unique, it's not because they're born with it, but that idea that some people are creative and some people aren't. What scientists call a fixed mindset can stop creativity in its tracks.

[Zarana Ifcevic Pringle]

Oftentimes, just the fact that we don't think of ourselves as creative is going to prevent us from ever attempting it.

[Burleigh McCoy]

But this idea is pervasive. We can sometimes think it's only the Einsteins or Beyonces of the world who are creative.

[Zarana Ifcevic Pringle]

Scientists call those people Big C Creators Big C as big influential creativity, eminent creators. But they are not the only ones. Creativity exists on a continuum for what we call Mini C creativity in the process of learning.

[Burleigh McCoy]

One example of Mini C might be your unique way of learning times tables.

[Zarana Ifcevic Pringle]

Little C in everyday interactions and activities.

[Burleigh McCoy]

Like gifting your friend a unique present.

[Zarana Ifcevic Pringle]

And Pro C that is professional creativity in our work contexts like designing new.

[Burleigh McCoy]

Software, writing a novel or making a science podcast. So even if you aren't Big C level like Beyonce, you and anyone can always start by opting in to being creative, which Zorana learned the hard way. After years of limiting herself, I concluded.

[Zarana Ifcevic Pringle]

That I was not creative. But I also noticed somebody else, a best friend of mine who was creative and I wanted whatever she had. I wanted to understand how is she able to do things that I did not think that I could do at the time? In retrospect, I think I was able to do it, but that I was not willing to make that choice.

[Burleigh McCoy]

That has changed and it culminated into a very creative thing, a book called the Creativity Choice about how creative people can stick with an idea. So today on the show the Science of Creativity we talk about how psychologists study it and the choices people make to grow their creativity. You're listening to Shortwave, the science podcast from npr.

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[Burleigh McCoy]

Okay, Zorana, so now let's talk about how you go about studying and measuring something so vague and mysterious as creativity. How do scientists study it?

[Zarana Ifcevic Pringle]

Scientists have lots of different tools to study creativity. So if we think of creativity in its most basic form, of coming up with original and appropriate or effective ideas, scientists have developed tests, oftentimes called tests of creative thinking or tests of divergent thinking. And an example of this test, probably the most frequently asked question is how do we use a simple everyday object in new and different ways? So how do can you use a brick? The instruction simply asks for as many answers as you can think of. And then we can look at how many different ideas can you come up with, and then we can look at originality of those ideas. When we are first asked the question, our mind goes to the most obvious answer. Well, we could build something with it. But then as you exhaust those more obvious answers, you get into the area of originality. There you can come up with things that are really interesting. So you can grind a brick and make pigments from it. You can use it for a miniature mural, and you can go on now with answers that are going to be rare.

[Burleigh McCoy]

So this is the brick test. That's one way scientists can study creativity. What if they want to ask more complicated questions? What are some of those complicated questions? And then how would scientists go about measuring that?

[Zarana Ifcevic Pringle]

One method we can use is called experience sampling method. And what that means is that we want to see what people's experience is at different times on working on their creative project. Technically, how we do it these days, we use our smartphones and their apps that send notifications at random times during the day to complete a series of questions depending on a research question and what we are interested in studying. And at the end of the process, we have the final product that we can then evaluate for how creative it was. And it's a judgment on a scale of, well, this is not creative at all. To this is very creative. And there is a continuum there. And when we have a group of people who are experts in some way, so if they are judging pieces of art, they are artists or art critics or art professors, for example, we find and that people tend to agree when we see creativity, we recognize it, even independently looking at it. Of course, there are limits to this technique, but it is very to me, quite surprisingly robust.

[Burleigh McCoy]

Interesting. And one of the ways you write that people can build their creative skills is by being aware of their emotions and working with them to problem solve and even regulate those emotions. So how does building your emotional intelligence muscles feed into creativity?

[Zarana Ifcevic Pringle]

Different emotions have these different connections between thinking and feeling. And if we know the connections about thinking and feeling, we can use it to our advantage.

[Burleigh McCoy]

Okay, can you give me an example of that? Using an emotion to our advantage.

[Zarana Ifcevic Pringle]

So imagine you are happy. You are happy, and you can now be playful. You can be silly. And in these emotional states, you are better able to think in ways that are original, that are going beyond what is obvious, that are unconventional. But if you are in a more subdued or even grumpy mood now, you are better able at critical thinking.

[Burleigh McCoy]

So the flip side of creativity is creative blocks. To illustrate this, can you tell me about the candle test?

[Zarana Ifcevic Pringle]

The candle test is very, very hard. So when researchers administer a candle test, they bring a person into a room and they see a desk. On the desk are several objects. A candle, there is a book of matches, and a box of thumbtacks. The task that the person has is to affix this candle to the wall so that the wax does not drip on the table.

[Burleigh McCoy]

Okay, so spoiler alert if you want to try this, don't keep listening right.

[Zarana Ifcevic Pringle]

Now, but there is a trick, actually very simple trick, that completely flips the number of people who are successful at solving this problem. Instead of 20% success rate, a simple change in instructions is resulting in 80% success rate in solving the problem.

[Burleigh McCoy]

What's the change?

[Zarana Ifcevic Pringle]

The changes not to present these materials as the box of thumbtacks, but saying a box and thumbtacks, if you say box of thumbtacks, people perceive it as a unit. They do not see there is a box and there are thumbtacks. If you say box and thumbtacks, now you have removed that unit and broken it into two separate pieces.

[Burleigh McCoy]

Okay, and so in your book, you say, this is an example of reconstructing the problem. You give the example of your book of how you got stuck and how you got unstuck. What Was that like? 1. And what do you think other people could learn from that example?

[Zarana Ifcevic Pringle]

Lots of people get stuck at some point during their creative process. And I actually hit the wall when writing a chapter about creative blocks, which is rather funny. I had a creative block about writing.

[Burleigh McCoy]

About creative block fitting.

[Zarana Ifcevic Pringle]

So what I did is I printed out my draft chapter that was not working and cut, physically cut with scissors, units of meaning and then started arranging them and at one point they fit into place like a puzzle fitting into place. I think it is important to start with the moment where we give ourselves a break. What happens when we are experiencing a creative block is something very emotional. What would you say in this situation if a friend was experiencing it? And another way of broadening our thinking is working on reconstructing the problem, saying let me examine the problem in a different way. Maybe there is an aspect of it I haven't looked at yet. And then if we have a mindset of we can do something about it, we can grow in our ability, we can develop it, different kind of decisions happen.

[Burleigh McCoy]

Zorana, thank you so much for talking to me today about creativity.

[Zarana Ifcevic Pringle]

Thank you.

[Burleigh McCoy]

Zorana's book the Creativity the Science of Making Decisions to Turn Ideas into Actions is out now and Short Wavers. Thank you for listening. Make sure you never miss an episode by following us on your favorite podcast platform. It really helps our show. And if you have a science question, send us an [e-mail] this episode was produced by Rachel Carlson, edited by our showrunner Rebecca Ramirez, and fact checked by Tyler Jones. The audio engineer was Robert Rodriguez, Beth Donovan is our senior director and Colin Campbell is our senior vice president of podcasting Strategy. I'm Burleigh McCoy. Thank you for listening to Shortwave, the science podcast from n.

[Emily Kwong]

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