Creativity and affect: A person-centered analysis

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between affect and creative behavior in a national sample of U.S. workers across industries (N = 12,743). Affect was assessed using open-ended questions and emotion rating scales. Those who spontaneously described only negative affect at work showed less creative behavior than those who used only positive terms (moderate effect size). Differences between those who described mixed and positive only affect were small. Examining ratings of affect frequency, we identified four profiles of positive and negative activated affect (high positive/low negative, low positive/high negative, high positive/high negative, low positive/low negative activated affect). Creative behavior was highest in the high positive/low negative activated affect profile, followed by high positive/high negative activated affect (small difference). Creativity support and creativity demand moderated the relationship between affect profiles and creative behavior. We discuss implications for understanding creators and contexts in relation to creative behavior.

Educational relevance and implications statement

This study has implications for how we teach about affect and creativity. Results show that when creativity is required and when there is support for creativity, those who experience high positive activated/low negative activated affect and those who experience high positive activated/high negative activated affect show similarly high creativity. Teaching about emotions and creativity should stress that both positive and negative activated moods can be related to creative behavior.