ABSTRACT
The world depends on creative people for contributions in all areas of life, from technology, travel, and medicine, to movies, music, and literature. Creativity derives its complexity from individual differences in personality, knowledge, environment, motivation, and receptivity, as well as creative abilities. Dabrowski's theory of emotional development suggests that creative, gifted individuals have high levels of emotional overexcitability, expanded awareness, and heightened responses, which result in above-average types and degree of expression. Retrospective studies of highly creative people continually identified the critical importance, and in some cases, the life-saving effects of having at least one adult who saw beyond nonconforming behavior and nurtured and championed the child's creative efforts. The school's responsibility to provide an environment where potential is realized means including a child's creative, as well as academic, potential.
