Barriers to Creativity in Mathematics
Some people never develop a creative approach to mathematics because of erroneous beliefs or negative experiences. When people think or believe the statements below, the beliefs may block their willingness to be creative in math.
If you've found yourself thinking the thoughts listed below, go here to learn how to open up your mathematical creativity!
Perceptual Blocks
Emotional Blocks
Cultural
Intellectual and expressive
- There's only one right way to solve this problem.
- In math, the only important thing is the right answer.
- Some people are born good at math and others are not
- There are too many things to remember in math, so why try?
- Look for patterns? Why?? Isn't that what they do in Kindergarten?
Emotional Blocks
- I might a mistake if I try something different.
- Math problems only have one right answer, so if I'm a little bit wrong, I'm still wrong
Cultural
- I'm not any good at math, just like my mom. (or my dad, my big sister or brother, my friends, etc.)
- The last time I showed my teacher a different way to do the problem, she got mad at me. I can't show my teacher that my way works, because that would be disrespectful to her.
Intellectual and expressive
- I think I see a pattern, but I don't know if it's important or how to describe what I think so people would understand it.