Creativity and aging topic of new book

A new book on creativity and aging theorizes that the creative spark still burns within older adults-the style may just be different.

Adams-Price

Dr. Carolyn Adams-Price, associate professor of psychology, is the editor of "Creative and Successful Aging: Theoretical and Empirical Approaches," just published by Springer Publishing Co. of New York.

In addition, Adams-Price chairs the university's interdisciplinary gerontology program.

She said the 348-page text focuses on creativity in a variety of domains, including writing and problem-solving, and presents new theories.

One theory focuses on people who develop a new interest late in life and examines how aging changes the style of the creative product. Another proposes that older people are more prone to creatively solve difficult problems with simple answers.

"For example, it's suggested that older adults are moving toward a simpler and more direct style of writing or painting that is easier for other people to understand," said Adams-Price, who also contributed a chapter to the book.

Other contributing authors include researchers in cognitive aging and creativity.

Adams-Price has been a member of the Mississippi State faculty for seven years. She received her bachelor's degree from the University of California-Santa Cruz, her master's at Brandeis University in Waltham, Mass., and her doctorate at West Virginia University.