The expression of creativity through occupation

Abstract

Creativity is widely recognized as a powerful and enriching element of people’s lives. However, the actual experience of creativity is seldom described in occupational science or occupational therapy literature. This research paper focuses on the presence of creativity as a process-oriented, intrinsically motivated activity in the lives of 22 individuals. The study included three methods of data collection: Daily Occupational Experience Survey (DOES), intensive interviews, and participant observations. The participants in this study described the experience of creativity as occurring often during their daily occupations, not only during the performance of primary and secondary or enfolded occupations but also while engaging in extraordinary occupations, when the experience of creating was identified a spiritual or transcendental experience. The three themes that emerged from the data are creativity as a process-oriented experience occurring during the performance of daily occupations, the experience of creativity occurring during primary and secondary occupations, and the manifestation of creativity as a transcendental process. This last type of creative expression often served the purpose of self-actualization. © 2007 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. All rights reserved.