Creativity in Adulthood and Old Age: Relations to Intelligence, Sex and Mode of Testing

Abstract

A total of 150 well-educated subjects 46 young persons (25-35 yrs.), 54 middle-aged persons (45-55 yrs.) and 50 old persons (65-75 yrs.) participated in a study of creativity and age. Of these, 86 were men and 64 women. The results showed that there were age differences in creativity to the disadvantage of the old. A model based on the variables, reduced speed of information processing, a lower level of complexity and a decreased willingness to risk original solutions by age, are offered as explanations. Social factors such as educational goals and methods, as well as occupational and social roles, are further considered as modifiers of creative ability throughout life. The results further indicate that an informal way of testing was beneficial for all age groups. The men performed better than the women on the two creativity tests in which answers pertaining to technical creativity were generated. Age differences were also found in intelligence connected with logical reasoning, but not connected with verbal ability.