Figure 1.

Stages of creative thinking based on the knowledge access model and the potential overlap among various domains of creativity

(A) illustrates the three stages of creativity: input or preparation, mental operations encompassing incubation and illumination, and output or expression. The input stage is common to all domains of creativity. The conventional view of creativity posits a sequence of mental operations, followed by the incubation and illumination stages of idea generation, which may vary across domains. The defining feature of this phase could be the experience of flow, which manifests differently across creative domains, including scientific, visual, artistic, musical, literary, and kinesthetic expressions. The star symbolizes the unique emphasis of the kinesthetic domain on perceptual and sensory experiences, differentiating it from other types of creativity. This experience distinguishes various domains of creativity based on the constructs they represent: reasoning, imagination, and improvisation. The extent to which they intersect determines the domains of creativity, such as scientific, musical, literary, kinesthetic, and visual artistic creativity.

(B) refers to Mendelson's (1976) knowledge access model. It elucidates the semantic hierarchy by activating defocused and focused attention. Experiential processes modulate the interaction between these two attentional pathways.