SUGGESTIVE PARALLELS BETWEEN KIRTONS A-1 THEORY OF CREATIVE STYLE ANDKOESTLERS BISOCIATIVE THEORY OF THE CREATIVE ACT

Kirton's Adaption-innovation (A-I) theory of cognitive style was revie wed with particular regard to the three factors [Sufficiency of Origin ality, Efficiency, and Rule/Group Conformity] assumed to underlie the basic (Al) continuum. The basic additive model (Al = SO + E + R) set o ut by Kirton was then related to Koestler's bisociative theory of the creative act. The compatibility of the two theories offered mutual sup port for both. The intent of this paper is to explore connections betw een Kirton's Adaption-innovation Theory and Koestler's theory of the c reative act. In Koestler's distinctive term, the ''bisociation'' of th e two theories offers interesting possibilities for reciprocal illumin ation. Kirton's work, initiated by the publication (Kirton, 1976) of h is measure of creative style, the Kirton Adaption-innovation Inventory (KAI), will be sketched first, followed by a brief overview of Koestl er's 1963 monograph (Koestler, 1967). Parallels between the two theori es will be suggested in a final section that casts the three Kirton fa ctor/traits into the conceptual framework of the creative act set out by Koestler.