Blocks to Creativity

 Fear of Failure
 Allergy to Ambiguity
 Touchiness
 Conformity
 Resource Myopia
 Starved Sensibility
 Rigidity
 FEAR OF FAILURE

CAUSES : Excessive punishment of failure or

excessive concern with loss of face or honour due to
failure.
SYMPTOMS : Tendency to stick to safe options, avoid
competitive situations or to participate only in those
activities where one is sure of winning. Tendency to
look for alibis for failure. Excessive fright and
nervousness in test situations.
 FEAR OF FAILURE

USEFULNESS : In a mild form, fear of failure

galvanises a person to a better, more focussed effort
at a task.
HARMFULNESS TO CREATIVITY : In a virulent
form it can prevent one from taking risks and in getting
involved in activities in which one initially has low
skills. This impedes divergent thinking and activities.
It can paralyse one due to stresses arising from taking
on divergent, off-beat, path breaking activities.
 ALLERGY TO AMBIGUITY

CAUSES : Excessive spoon feeding and structuring

of thinking. Having an excessively routinised life.
Excessive specialisation.

SYMPTOMS : Tendency to avoid unclear tasks and

complex, brain teasing tasks.
 ALLERGY TO AMBIGUITY

USEFULNESS : In a mild form, it helps a person

seek to clear up confusion and thereby enables him to
take clear and effective action.

HARMFULNESS TO CREATIVITY : In a virulent

form it makes a person shun the paths of invention,
discovery and creation because of their “messiness”.
 TOUCHINESS (FEAR OF HUMILIATION)

CAUSES : Lack of self confidence, low self-esteem :

being painfully rejected or humiliated in the past.

SYMPTOMS : Aversion to meeting even interesting

strangers : tendency to seek flatterers; wanting to
stick to the same old group : coldness towards
“threatening” persons. A bearing of false hauteur.
Excessive shyness.
 TOUCHINESS (FEAR OF HUMILIATION)
USEFULNESS : For certain kinds of artistic and
scientific work touchiness provides a shield from
intruding outsiders. A sense of loneliness may direct
energy towards creative activities of a non-
interpersonal contact type in which one can get
immersed and thereby forget one’s loneliness.
HARMFULNESS TO CREATIVITY : In creative
activities that require interpersonal collaboration,
touchiness can be a major impediment. It may also
make a person averse to seeking feedback. So
indispensable in the uncertain vista of creative activity.
CONFORMITY (FEAR OF SOCIAL CRITICISM
OR PUNISHMENT)

CAUSES : Brainwashing into obedience to seniors,

elders, social norms. Severe punishment of
deviance.
SYMPTOMS : Herd mentality; lack of independence
in judgment; excessive attachment to traditions and
dislike of innovations that go counter to traditions.
CONFORMITY (FEAR OF SOCIAL CRITICISM
OR PUNISHMENT)

USEFULNESS : Some conformity is indispensable

for collective existence. Conformity to norms of
society or collectivity helps one get acceptance and
thus paradoxically facilitates a subsequent change
agent role.
HARMFULNESS TO CREATIVITY : Resistance to
innovative ideas and divergent thinking. Missing of
opportunities for growth and self-actualisation.
 RESOURCE MYOPIA
(A FEELING OF RESOURCELESSNESS)

CAUSES : Excessive dependence, spoon feeding,

single tract existence. Being sheltered from difficulty
and challenges. Lack of experience in dealing with
problems.
SYMPTOMS : Tendency to get dependent and
become passive. Felling of helplessness.
Participation in a very narrow range of activities.
 RESOURCE MYOPIA
(A FEELING OF RESOURCELESSNESS)

USEFULNESS : None

HARMFULNESS TO CREATIVITY : Inhibits

innovation and divergent activities. Inhibits risk taking.
 STARVED SENSIBILITIES

CAUSES : Over-specialisation in activities.

Brainwashing into single track mission in life. An ethic
of asceticism.

SYMPTOMS : Feeling of dullness. Inability to feel or

experience or imagine richly.
 STARVED SENSIBILITIES

USEFULNESS : In efforts requiring great

concentration and single-mindedness, some neglect of
senses can release energy for the task at hand.
HARMFULNESS TO CREATIVITY : Starved
sensibilities reduce the supply of stimuli that may
trigger divergent thinking. They reduce curiosity and
openness and a sense of fresh encounter with life.
 RIGIDITY

CAUSES : Ignorance. Deep seated anxiety or

conflict or hostility.

SYMPTOMS : Tendency to stereotype; tendency to

dogmatism; tendency to get fixated on very particular
uses, tools, ideas, arrangements. Inability to
assimilate new information. Inability to learn and
change.
 RIGIDITY

USEFULNESS : Provides some protection in a

highly turbulent or hostile situation and therefore has
some survival value. To an extent simplifies life.
HARMFULNESS TO CREATIVITY : Serious
impediment to growth, experimentation and
innovation.