The role of creativity in interpersonal communication in dance and movement therapy: narratives of practitioners
Abstract
Based on the qualitative data, this paper aims to disclose the role of creativity in the therapeutic process from the perspective of dance and movement therapists in Lithuania. The literature on the concept of creativity and its interlinks with communication and the role of creativity is discussed. Based on the semi-structured interviews with dance and movement therapy practitioners, empirical findings reveal the role and meaning of creativity in the therapeutic process and discuss the elements of creativity in dance and movement therapy: game, spontaneity, and imagination. The practitioners of dance and movement therapy tend to conceptualize creativity broader than the classical definitions suggest. The role of creativity subjectively is interpreted as fundamental in the therapeutic process. It binds all other elements of the therapeutic process (such as movement, dance, and a therapeutic relationship); it is seen as a part of the communicative process between the therapist and a client. More specific identifications of the role of creativity foresee creativity as allowing to make a distance from emotionally painful situations and emotions.
Keyword : communication in therapy, creativity, dance and movement therapy, qualitative studies
How to Cite
Gedvilaitė-Kordušienė, M. (2022). The role of creativity in interpersonal communication in dance and movement therapy: narratives of practitioners . Creativity Studies, 15(2), 467–479. https://doi.org/10.3846/cs.2022.16718
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
References
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Orth, D., Kamp, van der J., Memmert, D., & Savelsbergh, G. J. P. (2017). Creative motor actions as emerging from movement variability. Frontiers in Psychology, 8. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01903
Rickards, T. (1993). Creativity from a business school perspective: Past, present and future. In S. G. Isaksen, M. C. Murdock, R. L. Firestien, & D. J. Treffinger (Eds.), Nurturing and developing creativity: The emergence of a discipline (pp. 155–167). Ablex Publishing Co.
Ritter, M., & Graff Low, K. (1996). Effects of dance/movement therapy: A meta-analysis. The Arts in Psychoterapy, 23(3), 249–260. https://doi.org/10.1016/0197-4556(96)00027-5
Runco, M. A., & Jaeger, G. J. (2012). The standard definition of creativity. Creativity Research Journal, 24(1), 92–96. https://doi.org/10.1080/10400419.2012.650092
Slepian, M. L., & Ambady, N. (2012). Fluid movement and creativity. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 141(4), 625–629. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0027395
Slepian, M. L., & Ambady, N. (2014). Simulating sensorimotor metaphors: Novel metaphors influence sensory judgments. Cognition, 130(3), 309–314. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cognition.2013.11.006
Walia, Ch. (2019). A dynamic definition of creativity. Creativity Research Journal, 31(3), 237–247. https://doi.org/10.1080/10400419.2019.1641787
Wengrower, H. (2015). The creative–artistic process in dance/movement therapy. In Sh. Chaiklin & H. Wengrower (Eds.), The art and science of dance/movement therapy: Life is dance (pp. 13–33). Routledge.
Young, G. J. (1985). What is creativity? Journal of Creative Behavior, 19(2), 77–87. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2162-6057.1985.tb00640.x
Amabile, T. M., & Pillemer, J. (2012). Perspectives on the social psychology of creativity. Journal of Creative Behavior, 46(1), 3–15. https://doi.org/10.1002/jocb.001
Amabile, T. M., & Pratt, M. G. (2016). The dynamic componential model of creativity and innovation in organizations: Making progress, making meaning. Research in Organizational Behavior, 36, 157–183. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.riob.2016.10.001
American Dance Therapy Association. (2020). What is dance/movement therapy? https://adta.memberclicks.net/what-is-dancemovement-therapy
Bohart, A. C. (1999). Intuition and creativity in psychotherapy. Journal of Constructivist Psychology, 12(4), 287–311. https://doi.org/10.1080/107205399266028
Carson, D. K. (1999). The importance of creativity in family therapy: A preliminary consideration. The Family Journal, 7(4), 326–334. https://doi.org/10.1177/1066480799074002
Chaiklin, Sh., & Schmais, C. (1993). The chace approach to dance therapy. In S. Sandel, S. Chaiklin, & A. Lohn (Eds.), Foundations of dance/movement therapy: The life and work of Marian Chace (pp. 41–50). American Dance Therapy Association.
Cook, P. (2002). Best practice creativity. Gower Publishing Limited.
Deacon, Sh. A. (2000). Using divergent thinking exercises within supervision to enhance therapist creativity. Journal of Family Psychotherapy, 11(2), 67–73. https://doi.org/10.1300/J085v11n02_06
Drazin, R., Glynn, M. A., & Kazanjian, R. K. (1999). Multilevel theorizing about creativity in organizations: A sensemaking perspective. Academy of Management Review, 24(2), 286–307. https://doi.org/10.2307/259083
Ford, C. M. (1996). A theory of individual creative action in multiple social domains. Academy of Management Review, 21(4), 1112–1142. https://doi.org/10.2307/259166
Gilhooly, K. J. (2002). Creative thinking: Myths and misconceptions. In S. Della Sala (Ed.), Mind myths: Exploring popular assumptions about the mind and brain (pp. 138–155). John Wiley & Sons.
Goldberg, C. (1986). The interpersonal aim of creative power. Journal of Creative Behavior, 20(1), 35–48. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2162-6057.1986.tb00415.x
Guilford, J. P. (1950). Creativity. American Psychologist, 5(9), 444–454. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0063487
Guilford, J. P. (1967). Series in psychology. The nature of human intelligence. McGraw-Hill Education.
Hyatt, K. S. (1992). Creativity through Interpersonal communication dialog. The Journal of Creative Behavior, 26(1), 65–71. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2162-6057.1992.tb01158.x
Isaksen, S. G., & Treffinger, D. J. (1985). Creative problem solving: The basic course. Bearly Ltd.
Kampylis, P. G., & Valtanen, J. (2010). Redefining creativity – analyzing definitions, collocations, and consequences. Journal of Creative Behavior, 44(3), 191–214. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2162-6057.2010.tb01333.x
Koch, S., Kunz, T., Lykou, S., & Cruz, R. (2014). Effects of dance movement therapy and dance on health-related psychological outcomes: A meta-analysis. The Arts in Psychoterapy, 41(1), 46–64. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aip.2013.10.004
Kottler, J. A., & Hecker, L. L. (2002). Creativity in therapy: Being struck by lightning and guided by thunderstorms. Journal of Clinical Activities, Assignments and Handouts in Psychotherapy Practice, 2(2), 5–21. https://doi.org/10.1300/J182v02n02_02
Kuo, Ch.-Y., & Yeh, Y.-Y. (2016). Sensorimotor-conceptual integration in free walking enhances divergent thinking for young and older adults. Frontiers in Psychology. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2016.01580
Leung, A. K.-y., Kim, S., Polman, E., Ong, L. S., Qiu, L., Goncalo, J. A., & Sanchez-Burks, J. (2012). Embodied metaphors and creative “Acts”. Psychological Science, 23(5), 502–509. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797611429801
Murali, S., & Händel, B. (2022). Motor restrictions impair divergent thinking during walking and during sitting. Psychological Research. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00426-021-01636-w
Parkhurst, H. B. (1999). Confusion, lack of consensus, and the definition of creativity as a construct. Journal of Creative Behavior, 33(1), 1–21. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2162-6057.1999.tb01035.x
Piirto, J. (2021). Organic creativity for 21st century skills. Education Sciences, 11. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci11110680
Purcell, K. (2021). Creating the dance of self: A stage theory of the creative process in dance/movement therapy. In H. Wengrower & Sh. Chaiklin (Eds.), Dance and creativity within dance movement therapy: International perspectives (pp. 141–154). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429442308-13
Orth, D., Kamp, van der J., Memmert, D., & Savelsbergh, G. J. P. (2017). Creative motor actions as emerging from movement variability. Frontiers in Psychology, 8. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01903
Rickards, T. (1993). Creativity from a business school perspective: Past, present and future. In S. G. Isaksen, M. C. Murdock, R. L. Firestien, & D. J. Treffinger (Eds.), Nurturing and developing creativity: The emergence of a discipline (pp. 155–167). Ablex Publishing Co.
Ritter, M., & Graff Low, K. (1996). Effects of dance/movement therapy: A meta-analysis. The Arts in Psychoterapy, 23(3), 249–260. https://doi.org/10.1016/0197-4556(96)00027-5
Runco, M. A., & Jaeger, G. J. (2012). The standard definition of creativity. Creativity Research Journal, 24(1), 92–96. https://doi.org/10.1080/10400419.2012.650092
Slepian, M. L., & Ambady, N. (2012). Fluid movement and creativity. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 141(4), 625–629. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0027395
Slepian, M. L., & Ambady, N. (2014). Simulating sensorimotor metaphors: Novel metaphors influence sensory judgments. Cognition, 130(3), 309–314. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cognition.2013.11.006
Walia, Ch. (2019). A dynamic definition of creativity. Creativity Research Journal, 31(3), 237–247. https://doi.org/10.1080/10400419.2019.1641787
Wengrower, H. (2015). The creative–artistic process in dance/movement therapy. In Sh. Chaiklin & H. Wengrower (Eds.), The art and science of dance/movement therapy: Life is dance (pp. 13–33). Routledge.
Young, G. J. (1985). What is creativity? Journal of Creative Behavior, 19(2), 77–87. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2162-6057.1985.tb00640.x