There are no undebated definitions of “creativity,” and any definition will reflect how this rich topic is treated. Nearly 20 years ago I discussed how behavior analysis might contribute—or not—to an understanding of creativity. I revisit this topic, expanding on some issues and reconsidering others. As before, my focus is on scientific and mathematical accomplishments, which, though tied closely to Weisberg’s placement of creative achievements in the domains of problem posing and problem solving, places emphasis on the extraordinary and productive giftedness of certain individuals. From the massive empirical, theoretical, and historical literature at least three essential and dynamically interlocking dimensions of their creative achievements emerge: talent, expertise, and motivation. I emphasize “interlocking” because the productive expression of each of these elements depends on the others. The role of behavior analysis in these elements is modest at best. It has nothing to say about talent—and even in some cases might deny its role altogether. As for expertise, with some notable exceptions, behavior analysis has had little to say about the acquisition of truly complex performances; this has been left to other fields. As for motivation, one must go well beyond naïve “pleasure and pain” accounts to more elusive, yet more powerful behavior–consequence relations. Many challenges to understanding remain for all behavioral scientists.

没有“创造力”的简单定义，任何定义都将反映该丰富主题的处理方式。将近20年前，我讨论了行为分析如何有助于（或不助于）对创造力的理解。我将重新讨论该主题，在某些问题上进行扩展，然后重新考虑其他问题。和以前一样，我的重点是科学和数学成就，尽管这与魏斯伯格在问题提出和解决问题领域中的创造成就的定位紧密相关，但重点在于某些人的非凡和富有生产力的天赋。从大量的经验，理论和历史文献中，至少可以发现其创造成就的三个基本且动态关联的维度：才能，专业知识和动力。我强调“互锁”，因为每个要素的生产性表达都取决于其他要素。行为分析在这些元素中的作用最多是适度的。它对人才没有什么可说的，甚至在某些情况下也可能完全否认它的作用。至于专业知识，除了一些明显的例外，行为分析对于获得真正复杂的表演几乎没有什么可说的。这已留给其他领域。至于动机，人们必须超越单纯的“愉悦和痛苦”，而要建立更难以捉摸但更有效的行为—后果关系。对于所有行为科学家而言，理解的挑战仍然很多。它对人才没有什么可说的，甚至在某些情况下也可能完全否认它的作用。至于专业知识，除了一些明显的例外，行为分析对于获得真正复杂的表演几乎没有什么可说的。这已留给其他领域。至于动机，必须超越单纯的“愉悦和痛苦”，而要建立更难以捉摸但更有效的行为—后果关系。对于所有行为科学家而言，理解的挑战仍然很多。它对人才没有什么可说的，甚至在某些情况下也可能完全否认它的作用。至于专业知识，除了一些明显的例外，行为分析对于获得真正复杂的表演几乎没有什么可说的。这已留给其他领域。至于动机，人们必须超越单纯的“愉悦和痛苦”，而要建立更难以捉摸但更有效的行为—后果关系。对于所有行为科学家而言，理解的挑战仍然很多。