Scientific Genius: A Psychology of Science [Hardcover]

Dean Keith Simonton (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0521352878 | ISBN-13: 978-0521352871 | Publication Date: June 24, 1988 | Edition: First Edition

Dean Keith Simonton developed a theory of scientific genius called chance-configuration theory that accounts for mental processes and behaviors behind the creative act, including intuition, incubation, and serendipity as well as the cognitive and motivational styles of great scientists in terms of a personality typology. Simonton examines the causes and consequences of exceptional productivity: individual differences in lifetime output, the functional relation between age and achievement, the probabilistic connection between quantity and quality, and such issues as the Ortega hypothesis, the Yuasa phenomenon, and Planck's principle. Other factors that he examines are family background, education, role models, marginality, and the zeitgeist. A concluding chapter outlines the broader implications of the theory for the measurement and encouragement of genius in science, and places it in the context of the alternative metasciences - the philosophy, sociology, and psychology of science. Simonton's provocative ideas are a major impetus to true psychology of science and will interest a broad audience.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Dean Simonton is one of the most creative people studying creativity today. In Scientific Genius he presents a theory of the bases of scientific creativity, as well as the beginnings of what he calls a 'psychology of science'. The book is a signal contribution to our understanding of creativity, scientific and otherwise....an excellent piece of work, and one that will be of interest to people in many different areas of psychology. It is an outstanding exemplar of work on scientific creativity." Janet E. Davidson, Applied Cognitive Psychology

Book Description

Dean Keith Simonton developed a theory of scientific genius called chance-configuration theory that accounts for mental processes and behaviors behind creative acts and scientific discoveries. The concluding chapter outlines the broader implications of the theory for the measurement and encouragement of genius in science and social sciences.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press; First Edition edition (June 24, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521352878
• ISBN-13: 978-0521352871
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,943,349 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Scientists' Bias is Pervasive, April 11, 2005

By 

Jan Peczkis "Scholar and Thinker" (Chicago IL, USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Scientific Genius: A Psychology of Science (Hardcover)

This book focuses on the scientific method. Perhaps the most eye-catching analysis is that of scientific objectivity and tendentiousness. Simonton (p.15) writes about the dispassionate search for truth that supposedly characterizes science as follows: "...the bulk of the evidence suggests that few scientists are so well behaved. On the contrary, a provocative research literature has accumulated on the `confirmation bias' in human reasoning [Refs]. When faced with having to infer the principle underlying a sequence of events, people are not inclined to seek out information that contradicts a favored hypothesis but, rather, to gather the most confirmatory evidence that the circumstances will allow. Even when disconfirmatory data unexpectedly appear, they often are ignored as a minor exception to the accepted rule. Not only is there reason to believe that practicing scientists betray this confirmatory bias [Ref.], but those scientists most admired by their colleagues may also be those most dedicated to proving a cherished hypothesis or theory [Ref.]. The notion of the disinterested investigator calmly committed to pure induction and falsification is a myth [see also Ref.].