Defying the Crowd

book by Sternberg and Lubart

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July 17, 2026

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In Defying the Crowd (1995), psychologists Robert Sternberg and Todd Lubart propose that creativity involves a blend of autonomy and problem-solving, likening it to strategic investing in the "marketplace of ideas." This means identifying unrecognized needs or problems and developing novel solutions. The creative individual first "buys low" by embracing an unpopular or overlooked idea, then "sells" it by convincing others of its value. This process requires identifying a unique niche and capitalizing on strengths while compensating for weaknesses.12

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creativity
Individual qualities of creative persons
In Defying the Crowd (1995), for example, the American psychologists Robert Sternberg and Todd Lubart likened the combined traits of autonomy and problem solving to buying low and selling high in the “marketplace of ideas.” By this they meant that the creative individual identifies a unique…
Read More
In Defying the Crowd (1995), for example, the American psychologists Robert Sternberg and Todd Lubart likened the combined traits of autonomy and problem solving to buying low and selling high in the “marketplace of ideas.” By this they meant that the creative individual identifies a unique…
Read More