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  • April 2001
  • Article
  • American Psychologist

Beyond Talent: John Irving and the Passionate Craft of Creativity

By: T. M. Amabile
  • Format:Print
  • | Pages:4
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Abstract

Although laypeople and creativity theorists often make the assumption that individual creativity depends primarily on talent, there is considerable evidence that hard work and intrinsic motivation-which can be supported or undermined by the social environment-also play central roles. In this article, the author uses the thoughts and work of the novelist John Irving to illustrate the prominence of nontalent components in the componential model of creativity.

Keywords

Creativity; Performance; Performance Improvement; Motivation and Incentives; Personal Characteristics; Situation or Environment

Citation

Amabile, T. M. "Beyond Talent: John Irving and the Passionate Craft of Creativity." American Psychologist 56, no. 4 (April 2001): 333–336.
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About The Author

Teresa M. Amabile

Entrepreneurial Management
→More Publications

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    By: Teresa M. Amabile and Douglas T. (Tim) Hall
More from the Author
  • The Turn Toward Creative Work By: Spencer Harrison, Elizabeth D. Rouse, Colin M. Fisher and Teresa M. Amabile
  • What Do I Make of the Rest of My Life? Global and Quotidian Life Construal across the Retirement Transition By: Jeff Steiner and Teresa M. Amabile
  • The Undervalued Power of Self-relevant Research: The Case of Researching Retirement While Retiring By: Teresa M. Amabile and Douglas T. (Tim) Hall
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