Rethinking Creativity: A Symbolic Model of Multi-Domain Creativity, Affective Integration and Personality Function
Author : Jesho VJ and S Rajakumari
Abstract :
Creativity has long been studied as a trait, a process, or a cognitive skill. But what if creativity is more fundamentally a symbolic function of the personality? This paper proposes a new theoretical model in which creativity is redefined as a structured process of symbolic engagement through which individuals form coherence across their identity, perception, and moral orientation. Drawing from personality theory, narrative psychology, symbolic cognition, and affective neuroscience, the model introduces four symbolic domains of creative expression; Cognitive-Structural, Symbolic-Narrative, Aesthetic-Sensory, and Moral-Participatory each of which reflects a distinct way of making meaning. These domains are sustained by four creative faculties: attentional depth, symbolic discernment, integrative synthesis, and generative commitment. Together, they form a dynamic system of personality development grounded in the integration of symbolic meaning over time. The model introduces a developmental “spiral of symbolic integration,” where the faculties interact cyclically to support transformation across domains. Additionally, it integrates emerging findings from affective science and psychedelic research particularly the work of Roland Griffiths which demonstrates that awe, reverence, and emotionally saturated experiences can lead to lasting increases in Openness and symbolic reorganization of the self. This framework not only unites disparate creativity theories but also lays the groundwork for empirical exploration. Proposed directions include psychometric development, narrative-affective profiling, and longitudinal tracking of symbolic transformation. The model has wide-reaching applications for education, therapy, leadership, and cultural renewal, offering a path forward in re-centering creativity as the architecture of human becoming.
Keywords :
Creativity, symbolic cognition, personality integration, openness to experience, narrative identity, affective transformation, Griffiths, psychedelic research.
