The Case for Domain Specificity of Creativity

Abstract For many years creativity researchers assumed that creativity was rooted in general, domain-transcending skills or traits. A growing body of evidence suggests that creative performance is domain specific. This has led both to changes in thinking about the nature of creativity and to a reexamination of previous evidence and assumptions about the generality of creativity. More research is needed to settle this issue; until then, creativity trainers would be wise to assume that creativity is domain specific. This assumption, even if incorrect, is less likely to nullify their efforts than the assumption of content generality.