Thresholds

Maximizing expression

A LACK OF STRUCTURE FOSTERS
CREATIVITY AND SELF RESPONSIBILITY

A second technique leading to the maximization of expression is the providing of unstructured situations. To the extent that a situation is unstructured, the individual is confronted with his own choices. To the extent that no rules of interaction are laid out, or behavior expected of him, he must determine his own rules, be responsible for his own action. Lack of structure requires of the individual that he be creative rather than a good player of a predetermined game.

Claudio Naranjo, Gestalt Psychology,  Nevada City, CA: Gateways (p. 80).

Comment:

The fertile void:

Chaos incubates creativity

by Reg Harris

Copyright © 2001 by Reg Harris. All rights reserved. All rights reserved. Apart from properly cited quotes and short excerpts, no part of this article can be copied or used in any form without written permission from the author. For permission to use, please contact me.

Might this suggest that, in education, we need to allow for a bit of chaos, a bit of unstructured time to move our students into creativity rather than compliance? This would cause students to build their own self-discipline, their own creative and integrative powers, and their own perception. We complain that many students are unmotivated or undisciplined or undirected. Perhaps this is because we impose too much structure and too many rigid standards. What seems more important, in a world as changing and rapid as ours? I would think that creativity and self-organization would be the most important skills we could instill. Maybe a little chaos in the classroom would be a good thing.