Comments on: Why Traveling Abroad Makes Us More Creative

By: sammcnerney

sammcnerney — Sat, 02 Jun 2012 22:51:46 +0000

You’re right to be skeptical about the connection between results of studies that test “lateral thinking” and creativity. Remember, creativity is a catch-term for a number of distinct cognitive process. So I would say that it’s hard to say that one distinct cognitive trait causes a certain type of “creative” behavior. In terms of scientific studies you request nothing is coming to mind, except for maybe the work of Mark Beeman and John Konious. I’ll keep my ear out though.

By: sammcnerney

sammcnerney — Sat, 02 Jun 2012 22:47:59 +0000

Thanks so much for your wonderful comment. It sounded like the post resonated with you. I’m glad. Similarly, your thoughts resonated with mine.

I would add that I’ve always wanted to go to Tibet. I’ve heard similar comments – it’s seems like a really interesting place.

By: Callum J Hackett

Callum J Hackett — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 22:49:54 +0000

A serious question (because I know I can be a bit acerbic at times!): can you recommend some reading that makes a convincing case for the connection between highly specified lateral thinking tasks (like thinking of uses for objects or solving word puzzles) and the far, far broader popular conceptions of “creativity” (as it relates to writing, music, science, product design, etc.)? As yet, I fail to see how the two are connected, and it seems that the connection so often drawn is heavily dependent on quite antiquated assumptions about the nature of creativity in its broad sense, but this may just be because I haven’t read the right scientific literature that demonstrates otherwise.

By: dressagequeen42

dressagequeen42 — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 20:03:44 +0000

I took two months off after college, using a refund I got from a class for which I’d registered that proved unnecessary for graduation. Together, my best friend and I traveled around Europe via train using our Youth Eurail Passes, staying in youth hostels, and conversing with a lot of young people from all over the world. We visited art museums, ate picnic lunches in parks, explored the country side via train and bike and lounged on the beaches. I think it was the best way to finish my education. I got a sense of how people in Europe live and see the world and I also learned that the U.S. is NOT the center of the world and that the way we do things is not necessarily the only one right way to do things. After returning to the States (to get a job, eventually get married, start a career, have a child, etc.) I retain my love of French food, literature, and museums. I developed a long term love for the French and for Paris and saved up enough money to take my husband there ten years later. Once there he said, “I get it…the French think they are superior to everyone else because THEY ARE!” (he had not expected to like Paris but LOVED it.) I think it helped that I taught him enough French to get around. The Parisians are very kind if you try to speak their language, even if you do so badly.

A lasting change: I also always bring canvas bags with me to every grocery store, as the Parisians did. It made so much sense. When I returned to the States I found that my eyes had been opened to the huge amount of waste here…in the name of packaging products to make them flashier and more appealing on the shelf, and in the name of convenience to the consumer we add tons of shiny cardboard, shrink wrap, etc. to landfills in which they do not break down. People think that by choosing “paper” over “plastic” at the market they are making a “green” choice. However, paper bags don’t break down in landfills that are so full the garbage gets no sunlight to help it decompose.

Interestingly, I asked everyone I met on my travels in 1988 what their favorite country to visit had been and overwhelmingly the answer was “Tibet.” When I asked why, they said, “Because although the people there are very poor, they are very happy.” Given the horrific oppression China has committed there in recent years I wonder if tourists to Tibet would still say the same thing.

Last comment for now: when I asked young people from the U.K. what they planned on doing for work when they returned from their travels they replied, “We don’t know. In our country if you see an ad in the paper for a job opening it is already taken.” I hope that things have improved in the British economy now, though my current reading of the news is not encouraging. I was lucky enough to be able to look in the “want” ads and get a job in New York City right away.