Inspiration
Cui Y., Thrash TM., Shkeyrov R., Varga PJ.
Inspiration plays a central role in the creative process. The research literature on inspiration developed only recently due to inconsistency in definition and the presumption that inspiration is unimportant relative to effort. The authors introduce a validated conceptualization of inspiration and review empirical evidence that inspiration predicts creativity, serves a transmission function, promotes productivity, and complements exertion of effort. Inspiration is then distinguished from insight and other constructs. Finally, the broader cultural phenomenon of inspiration contagion is considered. Inspiration is infectious, such that inspired writers inspire their readers, particularly readers high in openness to experience.