Creativity across Time and Place: life span and cross‐cultural perspectives

Creativity varies across time and place. With regard to variations across time, age‐related changes in the quantity, quality, and form of creative performance are examined. These changes are traced to a combination of cognitive, conative, and environmental variables. With regard to variations across place, the effect of cultural environment on creativity is examined. Culture is shown to influence the definition and expression of creativity, channeling creativity into certain task domains or social groups. The quantity of creative activity can be further affected by cultural features such as the value placed on conformity. Life span and cross‐cultural perspectives on creativity, it is argued, are integral to a comprehensive understanding of creativity.