Teresa Amabile
Teresa Amabile
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Full Name and Common Aliases
Teresa M. Amabile is a renowned American organizational psychologist and expert in creativity research.
Birth and Death Dates
Born on September 17, 1949, Teresa Amabile is still active in her field of expertise.
Nationality and Profession(s)
American | Organizational Psychologist
As an accomplished researcher and professor, Dr. Amabile has spent a significant portion of her career studying creativity, motivation, and innovation within work environments.
Early Life and Background
Growing up with a passion for understanding human behavior, Teresa pursued higher education in psychology, laying the foundation for her future contributions to the field.
During her academic journey, she developed an interest in organizational psychology, which would eventually become the focus of her groundbreaking research. Dr. Amabile's early work laid the groundwork for exploring creativity and innovation within various contexts.
Major Accomplishments
Dr. Teresa Amabile has made significant contributions to our understanding of creativity, motivation, and work environments through numerous publications and academic appointments.
Her most notable works include:
The Social Psychology of Creativity (1996) - A comprehensive analysis of the social factors influencing creative behavior.
Creativity in Context (1993) - An exploration of how external circumstances impact an individual's ability to think creatively.
Motivating Creativity in Organizations: On Doing What You Love and Loving How You Do It (1993) - A seminal work discussing the importance of motivation in fostering creative behavior.Notable Works or Actions
Throughout her illustrious career, Dr. Amabile has been recognized for her contributions to the field through various awards and honors.
She has held academic appointments at several prestigious institutions, including:
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Harvard Business School
Dr. Amabile's work has inspired numerous researchers and practitioners worldwide, making significant strides in our understanding of creativity and its application within organizational settings.
Impact and Legacy
The impact of Dr. Teresa Amabile's research is multifaceted:
Increased Understanding of Creativity: Her studies have provided valuable insights into the social factors influencing creative behavior.
* Improved Work Environments: By highlighting the importance of motivation and autonomy, Dr. Amabile's work has contributed to creating more conducive environments for innovation.
Dr. Amabile's dedication to advancing our understanding of human creativity and motivation continues to inspire new generations of researchers and practitioners alike.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Teresa Amabile's contributions to the field of organizational psychology have made a lasting impact on our understanding of creativity and its role in various contexts.
Her work has been widely recognized and quoted, influencing numerous fields beyond academia. Dr. Amabile's dedication to advancing our understanding of human behavior continues to inspire new research and applications.
Quotes by Teresa Amabile

Work that is devoid of meaning, interest, and joy can lead to lives that feel very empty indeed.

Because they spend so much of their lives working, people deserve the dignity of having positive lives at work.

When people believe that every move they make is going to affect their compensation, they tend to get risk averse.

If management generally overrides people’s decisions, they quickly lose motivation to make any decision, which severely inhibits progress.

Most people aren’t anywhere near to realizing their creative potential, in part because they’re laboring in environments that impede intrinsic motivation.

People can certainly be creative when they’re under the gun, but only when they’re able to focus on the work.

To be creative, an idea must also be appropriate – useful and actionable. It must somehow influence the way business gets done by improving a product, for instance, or by opening up a new way to approach a process.


