Creativity and the Samoan student

Abstract

The conflict between Samoan culture and the development of'creativity among Samoan students is examined. Creativity is defined as the process of sensing gaps, finding a means of effecting closure, and formulating hypotheses to eventually vproduce_h_tovel product. The greater the pressure to conform, however, no matter what the source, the fewer the individuals whd can preserve their creative functioning. The extent to which a culture encourages diversity and tdlerates individual deviation affects this creative development. Samoan culture has relatively few discontinuities. leoles are assumed at birth and rarely'phange throughout. life. Obedience to those) higher in authority and poier ,d,tfier those, slightly smaller or ybuiger is consistently. upheld. There is a great lack of stimulation which might produce changes. Piessures are brought to bear when any tendency to change appears. However, the one aifor source of discontindity is'the impact of United States culture. The conflict between the two cultures creates extreme frustration among young Samoan students and leads to a high dropout rate in' Samoan schools. Samoan educators,arelencouraged to be highly sensitive to creative, students' needs in order.to decrease therole conflict of Samoan students. (Author/DE) 4