Applying a creativity framework to animal cognition

Abstract In the field of creativity, psychologists typically only study humans and biologists or ethologists usually focus either on animal problem solving or consider creativity to be an evolutionary adaptation. Yet a fuller application of creativity principles to animal behavior may both shed insight into animal cognition and expand current notions of creativity. We propose a framework for animal creativity based both on animal behavior research and creativity theories. The framework proposes different creative capabilities required for each level—i.e., one does not have to complete level 2 to reach level 3, however one does have to possess higher creative abilities. The first level is the simple ability to recognize novelty. Next is observational learning, which raises questions about imitation, intention of behavior, and the cultural transmission of creative behaviors. At the peak is creating a tool or a behavior with the specific understanding that is new and different.

[1]  Michael Tomasello,et al.  Use of social information in the problem solving of orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus) and human children (Homo sapiens). , 1995 .

[2]  J. P. Guilford,et al.  Intelligence, creativity, and their educational implications , 1968 .

[3]  D. W. Mackinnon,et al.  The nature and nurture of creative talent. , 1962 .

[4]  B. Galef.  SOCIAL LEARNING: PROMOTER OR INHIBITOR OF INNOVATION? , 2005 .

[5]  J. Mench,et al.  Environmental enrichment affects the fear and exploratory responses to novelty of young Amazon parrots , 2002 .

[6]  E. Visalberghi.  Acquisition of Nut-Cracking Behaviour by 2 Capuchin Monkeys (Cebus apella) , 1987 .

[7]  Robert J. Sternberg,et al.  A Propulsion Model of Types of Creative Contributions , 1999 .

[8]  J. Carlström,et al.  A field experiment using acoustic alarms (pingers) to reduce harbour porpoise by-catch in bottom-set gillnets , 2002 .

[9]  Daniel Sol,et al.  Behavioural flexibility and invasion success in birds , 2002, Animal Behaviour.

[10]  D. Sol.  Behavioural Innovation: A Neglected Issue in the Ecological and Evolutionary Literature? , 2003 .

[11]  Danielle M. Waples,et al.  Behavioral responses of bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus, to gillnets and acoustic alarms , 2004 .

[12]  A. Whiten,et al.  Imitative learning of artificial fruit processing in children (Homo sapiens) and chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). , 1996, Journal of comparative psychology.

[13]  T. M. Amabile.  The social psychology of creativity , 1984 .

[14]  J. W. Getzels,et al.  Creativity and Intelligence: Explorations with Gifted Students. , 1962 .

[15]  K. Pryor,et al.  The creative porpoise: training for novel behavior. , 1969, Journal of the experimental analysis of behavior.

[16]  R. Greenberg.  The role of neophobia and neophilia in the development of innovative behaviour of birds , 2003 .

[17]  Mark H. Bickhard,et al.  New Ideas in Psychology , 2005 .

[18]  J. Guilford,et al.  The nature of human intelligence. , 1968 .

[19]  James C. Kaufman,et al.  Differences in Gender and Ethnicity as Measured by Ratings of Three Writing Tasks , 2004 .

[20]  N. Pierce.  Origin of Species , 1914, Nature.

[21]  M. Tomasello,et al.  Use of social information in the problem solving of orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus) and human children (Homo sapiens). , 1995, Journal of comparative psychology.

[22]  Simon M. Reader,et al.  Environmental variability and primate behavioural flexibility , 2003 .

[23]  D. Waddington,et al.  Modification of fear in domestic chicks, Gallus gallus domesticus, via regular handling and early environmental enrichment , 1992, Animal Behaviour.

[24]  C. Boake,et al.  Behavioural isolation between two closely related Hawaiian Drosophila species: the role of courtship , 2000, Animal Behaviour.

[25]  Craig A. Kaplan,et al.  In search of insight , 1990, Cognitive Psychology.

[26]  R. Schusterman,et al.  Remembering in California sea lions: Using priming cues to facilitate language-like performance , 1993 .

[27]  W. Schouten.  Rearing conditions and behaviour in pigs , 1985 .

[28]  Charles Darwin,et al.  On the origin of species, 1859 , 1988 .

[29]  R. Condit,et al.  Flower choice and bower decoration in the satin bowerbird Ptilonorhynchus violaceus: a test of hypotheses for the evolution of male display , 1987, Animal Behaviour.

[30]  T. M. Amabile.  Social psychology of creativity: A consensual assessment technique. , 1982 .

[31]  K. Laland,et al.  Foraging innovation in the guppy , 1999, Animal Behaviour.

[32]  E. Torrance,et al.  The Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking , 2012 .

[33]  W. Köhler.  The Mentality of Apes. , 2018, Nature.

[34]  Steven M. Smith,et al.  Creative Cognition: Theory, Research, and Applications , 1996 .

[35]  D. Paquette,et al.  Use of novel objects to enhance environments of captive chimpanzees , 1988 .

[36]  S. Kuczaj.  Deferred imitation and the acquisition of novel lexical items , 1987 .

[37]  S. Line,et al.  Simple toys do not alter the behavior of aged rhesus monkeys , 1991 .

[38]  M. Hauser.  To Innovate or Not to Innovate? That is the question , 2003 .

[39]  M. Miklo.  The ethological analysis of imitation A ! , 1999 .

[40]  S. Eisele,et al.  Social enrichment of the environment with infants for singly caged adult rhesus monkeys , 1987 .

[41]  Robert J. Sternberg,et al.  The Creativity Conundrum: A Propulsion Model of Kinds of Creative Contributions , 2001 .

[42]  J. Barlow,et al.  FIELD EXPERIMENTS SHOW THAT ACOUSTIC PINGERS REDUCE MARINE MAMMAL BYCATCH IN THE CALIFORNIA DRIFT GILL NET FISHERY , 2003 .

[43]  Food Scrounging and Diffusion of Foraging Skills in Pigeons , 1991 .

[44]  J. P. Guilford,et al.  Some Changes in the Structure-of-Intellect Model , 1988 .

[45]  A. Whiten,et al.  On the Nature and Evolution of Imitation in the Animal Kingdom: Reappraisal of a Century of Research , 1992 .

[46]  P. Laming,et al.  Habituation of fright and arousal responses in the teleosts Carassius auratus and Rutilus rutilus. , 1982, Journal of comparative and physiological psychology.

[47]  S. Boinski,et al.  Use of a club by a wild white‐faced capuchin (Cebus capucinus) to attack a venomous snake (Bothrops asper) , 1988, American journal of primatology.

[48]  D. Shepherdson,et al.  Second nature : environmental enrichment for captive animals , 1998 .

[49]  W. Lyddon.  Creativity in Context: Update to "The Social Psychology of Creativity" , 1998 .

[50]  L. Lefebvre,et al.  Feeding innovations and forebrain size in birds , 1997, Animal Behaviour.

[51]  J. Harris,et al.  Measured intelligence, achievement, openness to experience, and creativity , 2004 .

[52]  B. Skinner,et al.  "Self-awareness" in the pigeon. , 1981, Science.

[53]  J. W. Getzels,et al.  Creativity and Intelligence: Explorations with Gifted Students. , 1962 .