Dark Creativity: How People Get Good Ideas to Do Bad Things
In this episode of The Science of Creativity, Keith Sawyer talks with Dr. Hansika Kapoor about the psychology of dark creativity — how the same cognitive processes that generate brilliant ideas can also lead to deception, manipulation, or harm. Kapoor explains that creativity itself is amoral: it can be directed toward good or bad outcomes depending on intent and context. Their conversation spans the neuroscience of lying, the overlap between moral and creative cognition, and the role of cultural factors in shaping creative expression. They also discuss recent findings on the "art bias," on using creativity tests in college admissions, and about the cultural practice of jugard in Indian culture. Dr. Kapoor has been a Research Author at the Department of Psychology, Monk Prayogshala, Mumbai since July 2011. Monk Prayogshala is an independent not-for-profit academic research institute, striving to improve the academic research environment in India, starting with the social sciences. She is also an Affiliate at the Neag School of Education at the University of Connecticut. Her work has been published in several international peer-reviewed academic journals, such as Creativity Research Journal, Thinking Skills and Creativity, and Personality and Individual Differences (here's her CV). She also regularly contribute to popular media publications, including Psychology Today, Mint, and The Wire (complete list). Key topics include: • The concept of dark creativity and its ethical implications • Creativity, deception, and moral reasoning in the brain • Cultural perspectives on creativity in India and the idea of jugard • Creativity as a predictor of educational success • The "art bias" and everyday creativity For additional information: Dr. Kapoor's web site Dr. Kapoor's Psychology Today blog Music by license from SoundStripe: "Uptown Lovers Instrumental" by AFTERNOONZ "Miss Missy" by AFTERNOONZ "What's the Big Deal" by Ryan Saranich Copyright (c) 2025 Keith Sawyer
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The Art of Motion: Capturing Life on Paper an Interview with Carol Fabricatore
Based in New York City, Carol prefers to leave the studio and seek out the immediacy of city life, whether sidewalks, parks, boxing studios, or Coney Island. In this conversation, Carol Fabricatore shares her extensive experience as a professional illustrator and how she teaches advanced MFA students to advance on their creative journey. She talks about the mystery of capturing motion and energy in drawing, the role of fearlessness in artistic practice, and the transformative journey of students in MFA programs. She emphasizes the value of leaving the computer and drawing by hand, the necessity of experimenting and taking risks, and the significance of narrative and storytelling in art. Carol encourages even experienced artists to explore beyond their comfort zones, leave their existing style behind, and pursue a creative journey toward new ways of seeing and working. Carol began her career in editorial and book illustration, with work appearing in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Chicago Tribune. Over the years, her practice has expanded into fine art, where she combines acrylic and gouache to capture both the complexity and vulnerability of human experience. With a BFA from Parsons School of Design and an MFA from the School of Visual Arts, Carol has spent more than two decades teaching narrative drawing. For additional information: Carol's web site Music by license from SoundStripe: "Uptown Lovers Instrumental" by AFTERNOONZ "Miss Missy" by AFTERNOONZ "What's the Big Deal" by Ryan Saranich  Copyright (c) 2026 Keith Sawyer
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How AI Hinders Creativity in Education: Matt Worwood on The Convenience Trap
Matthew Worwood is a full-time Digital Media Design faculty member at the University of Connecticut. He has research interests in Creativity, Design Thinking, and Co-Creativity using Generative AI tools and Digital Media. Outside of his research, Matthew is an experienced learning experience designer who works closely with K-12 educators on professional growth and teacher creativity. He is co-host of the Fueling Creativity in Education Podcast and has produced two low-budget documentary films that explore topics related to creativity in education. For further information: Teacher Roundtables: Teacher Roundtables – Voices in Education Worwood Classroom web site: Worwood Classroom - Worwood Classroom Learning to think inside the box with Teacher Creativity: Teacher Creativity - Worwood Classroom with online tutorial videos Music by license from SoundStripe: "Uptown Lovers Instrumental" by AFTERNOONZ "Miss Missy" by AFTERNOONZ "What's the Big Deal" by Ryan Saranich Copyright (c) 2025 Keith Sawyer
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Art, Design, and the Creative Process with Lorne Buchman
In this conversation, Lorne Buchman discusses his book Make to Know: From Spaces of Uncertainty to Creative Discovery. It's based on interviews he did with creators in a range of fields. These interviews connect with the same themes in my book Learning to See--powerful features of creativity like iteration, uncertainty, engaging with materials, and an improvisational dialogue with the unfolding work. He shares his personal journey in discovering creativity, emphasizing the importance of engaging with uncertainty and the role of improvisation in art and life. Buchman highlights how constraints can stimulate creativity, and the significance of fostering a dialogue with materials in the creative process. For 13 years, Lorne Buchman was the president of one of the top art and design schools, ArtCenter College of Design, and he's now the President Emeritus. He's been a theater director, a dramatic literature professor, and the author of a book on filmic adaptations of Shakespeare's plays. He hosts the podcast Change Lab. For more information: Lorne Buchman's web site: Lorne Buchman - ikar Music by license from SoundStripe: "Uptown Lovers Instrumental" by AFTERNOONZ "Miss Missy" by AFTERNOONZ "What's the Big Deal" by Ryan Saranich Copyright (c) 2025 Keith Sawyer
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Kara Rooney: Finding Your Voice as an Artist
Kara Rooney is a successful New York multidisciplinary artist who creates installation performances and videos, as well as sculpture, painting, and photography. She's had numerous solo and group shows and performances, with many in New York City but also in Mexico, Italy, and Czechoslovakia. She's a published critic with articles in the New York Times and catalog essays, and she's curated many exhibitions. In this conversation, we talk about the complexities of being an artist. Kara talks about the challenge of finding one's voice and the importance of discipline and studio time. With her experience teaching at the School of Visual Arts, she tells us how she designs assignments in studio classes, and in particular, the value of constraints in fostering creativity. For further information: Kara's web site: Kara L. Rooney | Home The book Learning to See, about art and design education: www.learningtosee.net Music by license from SoundStripe: "Uptown Lovers Instrumental" by AFTERNOONZ "Miss Missy" by AFTERNOONZ "What's the Big Deal" by Ryan Saranich Copyright (c) 2025 Keith Sawyer
Welcome to THE SCIENCE OF CREATIVITY, your home for insights and inspiration about art, design, and invention. Your host is Dr. Keith Sawyer, one of the world's leading experts on creativity, art, and design. Dr. Sawyer is a tenured university professor who has published 20 books about the science of creativity, including his new book LEARNING TO SEE: INSIDE THE WORLD'S LEADING ART AND DESIGN SCHOOLS. Our goal is to inspire you with stories of brilliant creators and world-changing inventions. You'll learn about the latest psychological research and gain insights about creativity that will help you reach your full creative potential.
In addition to LEARNING TO SEE, Dr. Sawyer is the author of the award-winning books GROUP GENIUS and ZIG ZAG. He is the author of EXPLAINING CREATIVITY, known as "the creativity bible." His books have been translated into Chinese, Japanese, and Korean, and he gives keynote talks about creativity around the world. He even has his own creativity card deck, the ZIG ZAG Creativity Cards (available on Amazon).
THE SCIENCE OF CREATIVITY is published every other Tuesday.
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