The cognitive aspects of creativity in the works by foreign authors ar
e reviewed. Some researchers consider creativity to be an independent
process, others see it as the result of other cognitive function inter
action. Contribution of various processes (imagination, thinking, memo
ry) to creativity as well as the role of insight is very important. Pr
oblems of initiating creativity process, its normativity and different
levels are discussed. Creativity process depends on the type and leve
l of intelligence, imagination and memory. The problem of creativity p
roduct criteria (originality, the contribution to culture, usefulness)
is considered.