Factors affecting group creativity: lessons from musical ensembles

Publication date: Available online 2 March 2019Source: Current Opinion in Behavioral SciencesAuthor(s): Matthew Slayton, Adam S Bristol, Indre V ViskontasUnderstanding creativity is of great interest to anyone who seeks to train, cultivate, or understand this complex human faculty. One phenomenon of continued interest is how groups of individuals effectively engage in acts of creativity. We outline key concepts in creative cognition in individuals, as these processes are the foundation, on which group dynamics act. Next, we focus our discussion on musical groups, such as jazz improvisers and classical chamber music ensembles. We argue that musical ensembles offer a model system with which we can study creativity in the setting of both artistic expression and creative cognition. The neuroscience literature suggests that musical performance relies on similar brain networks as other creative domains and that, subject to intervening variables such as emotional context and group coordination, increased domain expertise results in reduced executive processes during creative acts. We tie these findings together using an interactionist model of organizational creativity and suggest directions for future research.

Source: Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences - March 4, 2019 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research