The cultural differential of creativity test: conceptual foundations and structure
Keywords:
creativity, mass creativity, dynamic culture, creativity diagnostic test, generalised factors of creativity, integrative approach to creativity, test “Cultural differential of creativity”
Abstract
Introduction. The development of the original diagnostic tool presented in this article is grounded in the identification of generalized creativity factors across child and adult samples. The authors employed an integrative approach to creativity, designed to classify individuals according to universal creative structures while also evaluating the specific personal and socio-cultural contexts of creative expression. Aims: the study aimed to develop a diagnostic tool for assessing creativity within a dynamic culture, based on system-dynamic and system-structural approaches to the study of creative thinking and the creative personality. Results. The author's method for diagnosing mass creativity comprises three tasks: 1. producing creative products (drawings) from symbolically rich stimulus material (for subsequent comparison with creative thinking tests); 2. interpreting images of human figures (assessing projective and psychosemantic aspects of the creative personality); and 3. creating stories about characters (narrative aspect). This methodology also incorporates reflective aspects for evaluating personal creative performance.
Conclusion. The article presents the theoretical foundations for diagnostic method creation within the context of a dynamic culture, as defined by V.G. Gryazeva-Dobshinskaya’s concept of the cultural differential of creativity. The diagnostic procedure and structure of the “Cultural differential of creativity” test (V.G. Gryazeva-Dobshinskaya, S.Yu. Korobova, Yu.A. Dmitrieva) are described. The test includes measures of creative thinking (fluency, flexibility, originality, elaboration, abstractness of titles, resistance to premature closure), metacognitive indicators (self-transcendence as supra-situational activity, cultural code, indicators of dynamics in series), personality traits (self-assessed creative effectiveness, personal identity), and personal narratives (ego positions, drivers, types of personal choice). Directions for the test’s standardization and validation are discussed.
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References
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15. Nogueira S.I., Almeida L.S., Lima T.S. Two tracks of thought: A structural model of the Test for Creative Thinking-Drawing Production (TCT-DP). Creativity Research Journal. 2017;29(2):206–211. DOI: 10.1080/10400419.2017.1303312.
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21. Shvarc S.H., Butenko T.P., Sedova D.S., Lipatova A.S. A refined theory of basic individual values of Russia. Psihologiya. Zhurnal Vysshej shkoly ekonomiki = Psychology. Journal of the Higher School of Economics. 2012;9(2): 43–70. (in Russ.).
22. Propp V.YA. Morfologiya volshebnoi skazki [Morphology of a fairy tale]. Moscow. Labirint Publ. 2001:144. (in Russ.).
23. Vogler K. Put pisatelya: Mifologicheskie struktury v literature i kino [The Writers Journey: Mythological Structures in Literature and Cinema]. Saint Petersburg. Amfora Publ. 2016:352. (in Russ.).
24. Kempbell Dzh. Tysyachelikij geroj [The Hero with a Thousand Faces]. Moscow. Akad-emicheskii proekt Publ. 2020:384. (in Russ.).
25. Vyazemskii Yu.P. Vooruzhenie Odisseya. Filosofskoe puteshestvie v mir evolyucionnoj antropologii [The Weapons of Odysseus: A Philosophical Journey into Evolutionary Anthropolo-gy]. Moscow. AST, Mir i Obrazovanie Publ. 2024:736. (in Russ.).
26. Han B.-CH. Krizis povestvovaniya. Kak neoliberalizm prevratil narrativy v storytelling [The Crisis of Narrative: How Neoliberalism Turned Narratives into Storytelling]. Moscow. AST Publ. 2023:160. (in Russ.).
27. Solovev A.E. Epoha vygorayushchih supergeroev: Kak samorazvitie prevratilos v kult, a pogonya za schastem zavela nas v tupik [The Age of Burnout Superheroes: How Self-Improvement Became a Cult and the Pursuit of Happiness Led Us to a Dead End]. Moscow. Al-pina Publ. 2025:230. (in Russ.).
28. Mei R. Muzhestvo tvorit [The courage to create]. Saint Petersburg. Piter Publ. 2020:160. (in Russ.).
29. Mei R. Chelovek v poiskah sebya [A man in search of himself]. Saint Petersburg. Piter Publ. 2022:240. (in Russ.).
30. Bern E. Igry, v kotorye igrayut lyudi. Lyudi, kotorye igrayut v igry [Games People Play. People Who Play Games.]. Moscow. Bombora Publ. 2022:592 (in Russ.).
31. Petrovskii V.A. Chelovek nad situaciei [Man above the situation]. Moscow. Smysl Publ. 2021:559. (in Russ.).
32. Kuvshinova M. Kino kak vizualnyi kod [Cinema as a visual code]. Saint Petersburg. Mas-terskaya “Seans” Publ. 2014:320 p. (in Russ.).
33. Heizer J. Supergibridnost: neodnovremennost, sotvorenie mifov i mnogopolyarnyi konflikt [Super-Hybridity: Non-Simultaneity, Myth-Making and Multipolar Conflict]. Metamodernizm. Is-torichnost, Affekt i Glubina posle postmodernizma [Metamodernism: Historicity, Affect, and Depth After Postmodernism]. Eds. R. van den Akker, T. Vermeulen, A. Gibbons. Мoscow. RIPOL klassik Publ. 2020:151–180. (in Russ.).
34. Kalugin A.Yu., Shchebetenkov S.A., Mickevich A.M. et al. Psychometrics of the Russian version of Big Five Inventory-2. Psihologiya. Zhurnal Vysshei shkoly ekonomiki = Psychology. Journal of the Higher School of Economics. 2021;18(1):7–33. (in Russ.). DOI: 10.17323/1813-8918-2021-1-7-33.
35. Stewart I., Joines V. Sovremennyi tranzaktnyi analiz [Modern Transactional Analysis]. Saint Petersburg. Sotsialno-psikhologicheskii tsentr Publ. 1996:330. (in Russ.).
36. Goulding, R., Goulding, M. Psikhoterapiya novogo resheniya [Psychotherapy: A New Solution]. Moscow. Klass Publ. 1997:288. (in Russ.).
37. Petrovskii V.A., Khodorych A. Idealnyi argument, 1500 sposobov pobedit v spore s pomoshchyu universalnykh frazenkodov [The Perfect Argument: 1,500 Ways to Win an Argument Using Universal Phrases]. Moscow. Bombora Publ. 2018:400. (in Russ.).
38. Gryazeva-Dobshinskaya V.G., Malceva A.S. "Typology of Personal Choice of Life Path": Description of Methodology and Results of Psychometric Testing. Vestnik Yuzhno-Uralskogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta. Seriya “Psikhologiya” = Bulletin of South Ural State University. Series Psychology. 2016;9(2):14–21. (in Russ.). DOI: 10.14529/psy160202.
39. Vasilyuk F.E. Psikhotekhnika vybora [Psychotechnics of Choice]. Psikhologiya s chelovecheskim litsom: gumanisticheskaya perspektiva v postsovetskoi psikhologii [Psychology with a Human Face: A Humanistic Perspective in Post-Soviet Psychology]. Eds. D.A. Leontev, V.G. Shchur. Moscow. Smysl Publ. 1997:284–314. (in Russ.).
40. Vasilyuk F.E. Typology of experiencing various critical situations. Psihologicheskii zhurnal = Psychological Journal. 1995;16(5):104–114. (in Russ.).
2. Gryazeva-Dobshinskaya V.G. Kreativnost i stressoustoichivost v kriticheskikh situatsiyakh zhizni cheloveka i kulturnykh soobshchestv [Creativity and stress resistance in critical situations of human life and cultural communities]. Resursy zhiznesposobnosti i stressoustoichivosti sovremen-nogo cheloveka: psikhologicheskie, psikhofiziologicheskie, neirobiologicheskie, pedagogicheskie aspekty: kollektivnaya monografiya (chast 1) [Resources for the viability and stress resistance of modern humans: psychological, psychophysiological, neurobiological, and pedagogical aspects: collective monograph (part 1)]. Chelyabinsk. Poligraf-Master Publ. 2021:115−132. (in Russ.).
3. Gryazeva-Dobshinskaya V.G., Koltunov E.I., Korobova S.Yu. et al. Multifactor models of creativity: structural and dynamic approaches in psychological assessment. The Education and science journal. 2024;26(9):129–150. DOI: 10.17853/1994-5639-2024-9-129-150.
4. Fürst G., Ghisletta P., Lubart T. Toward an integrative model of creativity and personality: Theoretical suggestions and preliminary empirical testing. The Journal of Creative Behavior. 2016;50(2):87–108. DOI: 10.1002/jocb.71.
5. Puryear J.S., Kettler T., Rinn A.N. Relationships of personality to differential conceptions of creativity: A systematic review. Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts. 2017;11(1):59–68. DOI: 10.1037/aca0000079.
6. Sung S.Y., Choi J.N. Do Big Five personality factors affect individual creativity? The moderating role of extrinsic motivation. Social Behavior and Personality. 2009;37(7):941–956. DOI: 10.2224/sbp.2009.37.7.941.
7. Taylor C.L., Kaufman J.C. The creative trait motivation scales. Thinking Skills and Creativity. 2021;39:100763. DOI: 10.1016/j.tsc.2020.100763.
8. Urban M., Urban K. Orientation Toward Intrinsic Motivation Mediates the Relationship Between Metacognition and Creativity. The Journal of Creative Behavior. 2023;57(1):6−16. DOI: 10.1002/jocb.558.
9. Torrance E.P. The Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking Norms-Technical Manual Figural (Streamlined) Forms A and B. Bensenville. IL: Scholastic Testing Service. 2008:42.
10. Cramond B., Kim K.H. The role of creativity tools and measures in assessing potential and growth. Alternative assessments with gifted and talented students. Ed. J. VanTassel-Baska. N.Y. Routledge. 2021:203–225.
11. Alabbasi A.M.A., Paek S.H., Kim D., Cramond B. What do educators need to know about the Torrance Test of Creative Thinking: A comprehensive review. Frontiers in Psychology. 2022;13:1000385. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1000385.
12. Campos H.M., Rubio A.M., Atondo G.H., Chorres Y.M.P. Relationship between creativity, personality and entrepreneurship: An exploratory study. International Business Research. 2015;8(8):59–71. DOI: 10.5539/ibr.v8n8p59.
13. Kim K.H., Pierce R.A. Adaptive creativity and innovative creativity. Encyclopedia of Creativity, Invention, Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Ed. E.G. Carayannis. N.Y. Springer. 2013:35–40.
14. Krumm G., Lemos V., Filippetti V.A. Factor structure of the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking Figural Form B in Spanish-speaking children: Measurement invariance across gender. Creativity Research Journal. 2014;26(1):72–81. DOI: 10.1080/10400419.2013.843908.
15. Nogueira S.I., Almeida L.S., Lima T.S. Two tracks of thought: A structural model of the Test for Creative Thinking-Drawing Production (TCT-DP). Creativity Research Journal. 2017;29(2):206–211. DOI: 10.1080/10400419.2017.1303312.
16. DeYoung C.G. Higher-order factors of the Big Five in a multi-informant sample. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 2006;9(6):1138–1151. DOI: 10.1037/0022-3514.91.6.1138.
17. Digman J.M. Higher-order factors of the Big Five. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 1997;73:1246–1256.
18. Fon Franc M.L. Process individuacii. Chelovek I ego simvoly [The process of individuation. Man and his symbols]. Saint Petersburg: V.S.K. 1996:349 (in Russ.).
19. Risunochnyi test Vartegga [Wartegg Drawing Test]. Ed. V.K. Kalinenko. Moscow. Smysl Publ. 2019:239. (in Russ.).
20. Dubov I.G., Smirnov L.M. Vzaimosvyaz tsennostei i universalnykh grafem [The interconnection between values and universal graphemes]. Bazovye tsennosti rossiyan: Sotsialnye ustanovki. Zhiznennye strategii. Simvoly. Mify. [Basic values of Russians: Social attitudes. Life strategies. Symbols. Myths]. Eds. A.V. Ryabov, E.Sh. Kurbangaleeva. Moscow. Dom Intellektual-noi Knigi Publ. 2003:277–299. (in Russ.).
21. Shvarc S.H., Butenko T.P., Sedova D.S., Lipatova A.S. A refined theory of basic individual values of Russia. Psihologiya. Zhurnal Vysshej shkoly ekonomiki = Psychology. Journal of the Higher School of Economics. 2012;9(2): 43–70. (in Russ.).
22. Propp V.YA. Morfologiya volshebnoi skazki [Morphology of a fairy tale]. Moscow. Labirint Publ. 2001:144. (in Russ.).
23. Vogler K. Put pisatelya: Mifologicheskie struktury v literature i kino [The Writers Journey: Mythological Structures in Literature and Cinema]. Saint Petersburg. Amfora Publ. 2016:352. (in Russ.).
24. Kempbell Dzh. Tysyachelikij geroj [The Hero with a Thousand Faces]. Moscow. Akad-emicheskii proekt Publ. 2020:384. (in Russ.).
25. Vyazemskii Yu.P. Vooruzhenie Odisseya. Filosofskoe puteshestvie v mir evolyucionnoj antropologii [The Weapons of Odysseus: A Philosophical Journey into Evolutionary Anthropolo-gy]. Moscow. AST, Mir i Obrazovanie Publ. 2024:736. (in Russ.).
26. Han B.-CH. Krizis povestvovaniya. Kak neoliberalizm prevratil narrativy v storytelling [The Crisis of Narrative: How Neoliberalism Turned Narratives into Storytelling]. Moscow. AST Publ. 2023:160. (in Russ.).
27. Solovev A.E. Epoha vygorayushchih supergeroev: Kak samorazvitie prevratilos v kult, a pogonya za schastem zavela nas v tupik [The Age of Burnout Superheroes: How Self-Improvement Became a Cult and the Pursuit of Happiness Led Us to a Dead End]. Moscow. Al-pina Publ. 2025:230. (in Russ.).
28. Mei R. Muzhestvo tvorit [The courage to create]. Saint Petersburg. Piter Publ. 2020:160. (in Russ.).
29. Mei R. Chelovek v poiskah sebya [A man in search of himself]. Saint Petersburg. Piter Publ. 2022:240. (in Russ.).
30. Bern E. Igry, v kotorye igrayut lyudi. Lyudi, kotorye igrayut v igry [Games People Play. People Who Play Games.]. Moscow. Bombora Publ. 2022:592 (in Russ.).
31. Petrovskii V.A. Chelovek nad situaciei [Man above the situation]. Moscow. Smysl Publ. 2021:559. (in Russ.).
32. Kuvshinova M. Kino kak vizualnyi kod [Cinema as a visual code]. Saint Petersburg. Mas-terskaya “Seans” Publ. 2014:320 p. (in Russ.).
33. Heizer J. Supergibridnost: neodnovremennost, sotvorenie mifov i mnogopolyarnyi konflikt [Super-Hybridity: Non-Simultaneity, Myth-Making and Multipolar Conflict]. Metamodernizm. Is-torichnost, Affekt i Glubina posle postmodernizma [Metamodernism: Historicity, Affect, and Depth After Postmodernism]. Eds. R. van den Akker, T. Vermeulen, A. Gibbons. Мoscow. RIPOL klassik Publ. 2020:151–180. (in Russ.).
34. Kalugin A.Yu., Shchebetenkov S.A., Mickevich A.M. et al. Psychometrics of the Russian version of Big Five Inventory-2. Psihologiya. Zhurnal Vysshei shkoly ekonomiki = Psychology. Journal of the Higher School of Economics. 2021;18(1):7–33. (in Russ.). DOI: 10.17323/1813-8918-2021-1-7-33.
35. Stewart I., Joines V. Sovremennyi tranzaktnyi analiz [Modern Transactional Analysis]. Saint Petersburg. Sotsialno-psikhologicheskii tsentr Publ. 1996:330. (in Russ.).
36. Goulding, R., Goulding, M. Psikhoterapiya novogo resheniya [Psychotherapy: A New Solution]. Moscow. Klass Publ. 1997:288. (in Russ.).
37. Petrovskii V.A., Khodorych A. Idealnyi argument, 1500 sposobov pobedit v spore s pomoshchyu universalnykh frazenkodov [The Perfect Argument: 1,500 Ways to Win an Argument Using Universal Phrases]. Moscow. Bombora Publ. 2018:400. (in Russ.).
38. Gryazeva-Dobshinskaya V.G., Malceva A.S. "Typology of Personal Choice of Life Path": Description of Methodology and Results of Psychometric Testing. Vestnik Yuzhno-Uralskogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta. Seriya “Psikhologiya” = Bulletin of South Ural State University. Series Psychology. 2016;9(2):14–21. (in Russ.). DOI: 10.14529/psy160202.
39. Vasilyuk F.E. Psikhotekhnika vybora [Psychotechnics of Choice]. Psikhologiya s chelovecheskim litsom: gumanisticheskaya perspektiva v postsovetskoi psikhologii [Psychology with a Human Face: A Humanistic Perspective in Post-Soviet Psychology]. Eds. D.A. Leontev, V.G. Shchur. Moscow. Smysl Publ. 1997:284–314. (in Russ.).
40. Vasilyuk F.E. Typology of experiencing various critical situations. Psihologicheskii zhurnal = Psychological Journal. 1995;16(5):104–114. (in Russ.).
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Published
2025-06-30
How to Cite
Gryazeva-Dobshinskaya, V., Korobova, S., & Dmitrieva, Y. (2025). The cultural differential of creativity test: conceptual foundations and structure. Psychology. Psychophysiology, 18(3), 5-17. https://doi.org/10.14529/jpps250301
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Methodological and theoretical issues of psychology
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