ERIC Number: ED251039
Record Type: RIE
Publication Date: 1984-Feb
Pages: 17
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
The Mentor: Who Encourages the Creative Person?
Holman, E. Riley
The kinds of persons the creative person sees as mentors and the roles mentors play in helping the creative person achieve his/her creative endeavors were studied. Ninety adults (40 males and 50 females) were identified as creative by graduate students registered for a course entitled "Creativity: Gifted and Talented." The adults ranged in age from young adults to retired persons. The creative adults were interviewed by the graduate students. Particular emphasis was placed on determining who was helpful in the adults' pursuit of creative endeavors, and the forces that blocked or stifled their creative ability. Content analysis was undertaken to code the information in percentages and numerical terms. The most frequent source of support identified was the family: 61 percent listed one or more family members as mentors. Thirty-three percent credited one or more teachers with enhancing the development of their creativity. Support provided by family members included providing experiences, instilling confidence, setting an example, tutoring, developing individuality, and developing security. Support provided by educators included giving special attention, instilling confidence, giving positive feedback, and using unusual teaching methods. (Author/SW)
Publication Type: Reports - Research; Speeches/Meeting Papers
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Note: Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Eastern Educational Research Association (7th, West Palm Beach, FL, February 9-12, 1984).