Simonton to Give E. Paul Torrance Lecture

Dean Simonton, Distinguished Professor of Psychology at the University of California-Davis and recognized worldwide for his creativity research, will deliver the 2005 E. Paul Torrance Lecture on Friday, October 14 at 7 p.m. at the Tate Center Reception Hall.

Simonton, who has authored nine books on genius and creativity and written more than 290 book chapters and articles in professional journals, has been featured in popular media such as the A&E network presentation, The Mystery of Genius, a two-hour study of that rare human trait.

The title of Simon's lecture is “The Genetics of Talent Development: Putting the Gifted Back into Giftedness.”

“Recent research on expertise acquisition has argued that there is no such thing as ‘innate talent' or ‘genetic gifts.' Instead, exceptional abilities of whatever kind are slowly and arduously acquired through training and practice – pure nurture sans nature,” says Simonton. “However, not only are there weaknesses in the argument for expertise acquisition, but the case for a genetic contribution is much stronger than recognized. This is strengthened by conceiving talent development as both emergenic and epigenetic. After outlining a formal model of this complex genetic process, I draw the implications for both theoretical research and educational practice.”

Simonton does research on a wide range of topics related to genius, creativity, leadership, talent and esthetics. In his investigations, he uses a variety of methods, including mathematical models, computer simulation and laboratory experiments. Nonetheless, most of his studies are historiometric in that they apply advanced statistics to biographical, historical, and content analytical data about eminent creators and leaders. Using this approach, he has examined (1) the relation between age and achievement, (2) the personality traits and societal context behind presidential leadership, (3) the developmental and career factors underlying scientific creativity, (4) the content analytical attributes of masterworks in music and literature, (5) the determinants of military genius, (6) the factors responsible for multiple discoveries and inventions, and (7) the effects of role models and mentors on personal development – among many other topics. He is on the editorial boards of the Creativity Research Journal, Empirical Studies of the Arts, Review of General Psychology, Political Psychology, Journal of Creative Behavior, Bulletin of Psychology and the Arts, and Korean Journal of Thinking and Problem Solving.

A reception will be held immediately following the lecture. The E. Paul Torrance Lecture Series annually brings a scholar to the University of Georgia to discuss research and issues concerned with creativity. It was established in 1985 in honor of Torrance, a native Georgian and a pioneer in research on the identification and development of creative potential. He is most noted for his development of the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking which are used around the world.

The lecture is sponsored by The Torrance Center for Creativity and Talent Development, which was established in 1984 by the late UGA professor of educational psychology Mary Frasier to continue the tradition of scholarship and excellence exemplified in Torrance's work.

For more information visit www.coe.uga.edu/torrance/ or call 706/542-5104.

Wednesday, October 5, 2005

WRITER: Michael Childs, 706/542-5889, mdchilds@uga.edu
CONTACT: Bonnie Cramond, 706/542-5104, bcramond@uga.edu