Creative development as acquired expertise: Theoretical issues and an empirical test

Journal/Book: Develop Rev. 2000; 20: 525 B St, Ste 1900, San Diego, CA 92101-4495, USA. Academic Press Inc. 283-318.

Abstract: Although outstanding creativity has been viewed as an acquired expertise, creative development might operate differently than occurs in sports, games, and music performance. To test the creative-expertise hypothesis, the careers of 59 classical composers were examined according to the differential aesthetic success of their 911 operas. The potential predictors were seven measures of domain-relevant experience: cumulative years (since first operas, first compositions, and first lessons) and cumulative products (genre-specific operas, all operas, all vocal compositions, and all compositions). The nonmonotonic longitudinal trends and the relative explanatory power of the expertise-acquisition measures indicate that complex specialization (''overtraining'') and versatility (''cross-training'') effects may determine creative development across the life span. The broader implications of the findings are then discussed.

Note: Review Simonton DK, Univ Calif Davis, Dept Psychol, 1 Shields Ave, Davis,CA 95616 USA

Keyword(s): creative development; acquired expertise; overtraining; cross-training; aesthetic success; classical music; COMPUTER-CONTENT-ANALYSIS; CLASSICAL COMPOSERS; MELODIC ORIGINALITY; DELIBERATE PRACTICE; THEMATIC FAME; PRODUCTIVITY; MODEL; AGE; EMINENCE; PERFORMANCE

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