Abstract
Based on the instrumental account of emotion regulation (Tamir, 2005), the current research seeks to offer a novel perspective to the emotions-creativity debate by investigating the instrumental value of trait-consistent emotions in creativity. We hypothesize that emotions such as worry (vs. happy) are trait-consistent experiences for individuals higher on trait neuroticism and experiencing these emotions can facilitate performance in a creativity task. In 3 studies, we found support for our hypothesis. First, individuals higher in neuroticism had a greater preference for recalling worrisome (vs. happy) events in anticipation of performing a creativity task (Study 1). Moreover, when induced to recall a worrisome (vs. happy) event, individuals higher in neuroticism came up with more creative design (Study 2) and more flexible uses of a brick (Study 3) when the task was a cognitively demanding one. Further, Study 3 offers preliminary support that increased intrinsic task enjoyment and motivation mediates the relationship between trait-consistent emotion regulation and creative performance. These findings offer a new perspective to the controversy concerning the emotions-creativity relationship and further demonstrate the role of instrumental emotion regulation in the domain of creative performance.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 846-856 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | Emotion (Washington, D.C.) |
| Volume | 14 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Oct 2014 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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The role of instrumental emotion regulation in the emotions-creativity link : How worries render individuals with high neuroticism more creative. / Leung, Angela K Y; Liou, Shyhnan; Qiu, Lin; Kwan, Letty Y Y; Chiu, Chi Yue; Yong, Jose C.
In: Emotion (Washington, D.C.), Vol. 14, No. 5, 01.10.2014, p. 846-856.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
TY - JOUR
T1 - The role of instrumental emotion regulation in the emotions-creativity link
T2 - How worries render individuals with high neuroticism more creative
AU - Leung, Angela K Y
AU - Liou, Shyhnan
AU - Qiu, Lin
AU - Kwan, Letty Y Y
AU - Chiu, Chi Yue
AU - Yong, Jose C.
PY - 2014/10/1
Y1 - 2014/10/1
N2 - Based on the instrumental account of emotion regulation (Tamir, 2005), the current research seeks to offer a novel perspective to the emotions-creativity debate by investigating the instrumental value of trait-consistent emotions in creativity. We hypothesize that emotions such as worry (vs. happy) are trait-consistent experiences for individuals higher on trait neuroticism and experiencing these emotions can facilitate performance in a creativity task. In 3 studies, we found support for our hypothesis. First, individuals higher in neuroticism had a greater preference for recalling worrisome (vs. happy) events in anticipation of performing a creativity task (Study 1). Moreover, when induced to recall a worrisome (vs. happy) event, individuals higher in neuroticism came up with more creative design (Study 2) and more flexible uses of a brick (Study 3) when the task was a cognitively demanding one. Further, Study 3 offers preliminary support that increased intrinsic task enjoyment and motivation mediates the relationship between trait-consistent emotion regulation and creative performance. These findings offer a new perspective to the controversy concerning the emotions-creativity relationship and further demonstrate the role of instrumental emotion regulation in the domain of creative performance.
AB - Based on the instrumental account of emotion regulation (Tamir, 2005), the current research seeks to offer a novel perspective to the emotions-creativity debate by investigating the instrumental value of trait-consistent emotions in creativity. We hypothesize that emotions such as worry (vs. happy) are trait-consistent experiences for individuals higher on trait neuroticism and experiencing these emotions can facilitate performance in a creativity task. In 3 studies, we found support for our hypothesis. First, individuals higher in neuroticism had a greater preference for recalling worrisome (vs. happy) events in anticipation of performing a creativity task (Study 1). Moreover, when induced to recall a worrisome (vs. happy) event, individuals higher in neuroticism came up with more creative design (Study 2) and more flexible uses of a brick (Study 3) when the task was a cognitively demanding one. Further, Study 3 offers preliminary support that increased intrinsic task enjoyment and motivation mediates the relationship between trait-consistent emotion regulation and creative performance. These findings offer a new perspective to the controversy concerning the emotions-creativity relationship and further demonstrate the role of instrumental emotion regulation in the domain of creative performance.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84921667375&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1037/a0036965
DO - 10.1037/a0036965
M3 - Article
VL - 14
SP - 846
EP - 856
JO - Emotion (Washington, D.C.)
JF - Emotion (Washington, D.C.)
SN - 1528-3542
IS - 5
ER -