Author posts
Maslow’s hierarchy of needs: Updated for the 21st century
Rather than trekking up a mountain, a more accurate metaphor for human development involves navigating the waters of a choppy sea.
April 28, 2020
There's a Way to Unlock Human Potential – but It's Not Standardized Testing
Standardized testing is like bringing a knife to a gun fight. It's not totally useless, but it does misunderstand the situation. The Imagination Institute's Scott Barry Kaufman suggests a more three-dimensional search for intelligence.
October 21, 2016
The Search for Intelligent Life? Start by Re-Designing the IQ Test
The IQ test is the most widely known measure of intelligence, but are the 'twice exceptional' and other gifted members of society slipping between the cracks?
October 03, 2016
The Science of Creativity: How Imagination and Intelligence Work Together in the Brain
Imagination Institute's Scott Barry Kaufman talks brain networks - daydreaming, how to have better ideas, and the left-brained vs. right-brained myth.
June 27, 2016
The Psychology of Solitude: Find Meaning, Mental Health in the Beauty of Silence
Echoing the English psychoanalyst Donald Winnicott, Scott Barry Kaufman explains why solitude is considered one of the greatest markers of psychological health.
June 09, 2016
Creativity is the subconscious mind combined with intuition and rationality
Creativity takes places equally in the conscious and subconscious mind, and while popular definitions often emphasize intuition over rationality, you won't have breakthroughs without both.
April 29, 2016
There Are Two Kinds of Passion: One You Should Follow, One You Shouldn't
Passion is what fuels our skills and talents, allowing us to make concrete changes in the world. But not all passions are created equal, says cognitive psychologist Scott Barry Kaufman.
March 01, 2016
Meditation May Not Be Giving You the Creative Spark You Think It Does
Creativity is the result of toggling between two main modes of thought. So what exactly are these modes and how do we take the middle path?
January 19, 2016
Scott Barry Kaufman
Scott Barry Kaufman, Ph.D., is a humanistic psychologist exploring the depths of human potential. He has taught courses on intelligence, creativity, and well-being at Columbia University, NYU, the University of Pennsylvania, and elsewhere. In addition to writing the column Beautiful Minds for Scientific American, he also hosts The Psychology Podcast, and is author and/or editor of 9 books, including
