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East‐West Difference in Views on Creativity: Is Howard Gardner Correct? Yes, and No
Author(s) -
CHENG SOH KAY
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
the journal of creative behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.896
H-Index - 55
eISSN - 2162-6057
pISSN - 0022-0175
DOI - 10.1002/j.2162-6057.1999.tb01041.x
Subject(s) - creativity , china , psychology , action (physics) , chinese culture , epistemology , empirical research , sociology , social psychology , political science , law , philosophy , physics , quantum mechanics
The cultural aspect of creativity has in recent years begun to attract the attention of creativity researchers both at the conceptual and empirical levels. Howard Gardner posits a performance‐oriented regimental approach to creativity in China, based on his visit to the country a decade ago. He also proposes five assumptions underlying such an approach. The present study tests these conceptions empirically by contrasting the views of Singapore teachers steeped in Chinese culture with those in the Western tradition. Teachers' choices of action contradict Gardner's contention but his assumptions are largely supported.