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

[Gretchen Whitney]

E-mail: D.K. Simonton  : dksimonton at ucdavis.edu

TITLE           Creative development as acquired expertise: Theoretical
issues and an empirical test
AUTHOR  Simonton DK
JOURNAL  DEVELOPMENTAL REVIEW  20 (2): 283-318 JUN 2000

 Document type: Review     Language: English        Cited References: 133
Times Cited: 0


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. (C) 2000 Academic
Press.

Author Keywords:
creative development, acquired expertise, overtraining, cross-training,
aesthetic success, classical music

KeyWords Plus:
COMPUTER-CONTENT-ANALYSIS, CLASSICAL COMPOSERS, MELODIC ORIGINALITY,
DELIBERATE PRACTICE,
THEMATIC FAME, PRODUCTIVITY, MODEL, AGE, EMINENCE, PERFORMANCE

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

Publisher:
ACADEMIC PRESS INC, SAN DIEGO

IDS Number:
323HJ

ISSN:
0273-2297

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