What are the four steps to the creative process, in your own words?

The first step of the creative process is allowing your mind and imagination to open up. Although this is hard to do, taking this first to quite your mind and your thoughts will clear your slate so that you can allow fresh and creative thoughts to enter your mind. The second step, or the incubation stages is when you sit on your idea and think about it. This may take several days to complete, but it is important to thoroughly think through your idea and decide to go with it. The third step is "illumination" when the idea just pops in your head after sitting in your unconscious state of mind. Although this is the most gratifying stage, it takes careful completion of the two stages before to come up with a solid idea. The last stage of the creative process is taking action on the execution of your idea. Often times we come up with strong, imaginative ideas, but we do not have enough motivation to actually act on them.

What is functional fixedness and what are the problems that are associated with this way of thinking?

functional fixedness is a persons tendency to think narrowly and "inside the box", instead of allowing your mind to wander and think about things in a new and different light.

What are the benefits of group brainstorming?

By group brainstorming, it allows you to come up with ideas and combinations of ideas that you would have never thought up by yourself. It allows you to play, and laugh, as well as think in an environment where nothing is wrong, silly, or stupid.

Explain a time when you used this (or parts of the) process in the past for a project or creative solution to an everyday problem. Do you think these stages were beneficial to the end result?

For my 3D group bag project last semester, I was in a group of 4 people where we had to come up with 2 designs for a paper bag, that would carry a heavy bird sculpture. We sat down all together and just started drawing, planning, and collaborating on a piece of paper between us all. After a good thirty minuets, we had up to 25 ideas for each of us, then we combined and used different combination's of all our ideas to come up with our final designs. This process was extremely beneficial to me because it allowed me to collaborate with my peers and contribute to come up with new and fresh ideas that I would have never thought up by myself.

Are there any methods for finding new ideas that tap into emotions, physical sensations, or actions, which serve as doorways to creativity?

By day dreaming, it allows a person to enter a zen like "flow state". This state allows a person to relax, and allow their unconscious to focus and roam free. You empty your mind into a simpler state and allow ideas to flow in and out peacefully. This same state is experienced by meditation by monks and athletes.

How would this kind of kinesthetic (physical movement), or emotional intelligence fair during the 1500-1800 in Europe?