A CLOSER LOOK AT TRANSITIONS BETWEEN THE GENERATIVE AND EVALUATIVE PHASES OF CREATIVE THOUGHT

Creative thinking is often viewed as a dynamic process that involves shifts between two distinct modes (or phases) of thought-a generative and an evaluative mode. The generative mode involves the generation of new ideas, whereas the evaluative mode involves cognitive and affective evaluations of these ideas. Although the neurocognitive underpinnings of these two thought modes have received significant attention, the dynamics of transitions between them remain largely unexplored. Here, we focus on these dynamics and review current evidence from psychology and cognitive neuroscience about the relationships and transitions between the two purported modes of thought. We suggest that two types of evaluative processing-automatic-affective and deliberate (i.e., based in cognitive control)-play pivotal roles in supporting transitions between the generative and evaluative modes. Ultimately, we contend that future research into creative thought should focus on clarifying the timescales at which the two modes of thought may unfold, how the transition rate between them may relate to creative outcomes, and the nature of automatic-affective evaluations made toward thoughts.