From Creative Potential to Creative Achievements

Abstract. Creative potential realized in creative achievement changes the world and defines progress. Accordingly, the investigation of factors that contribute to the process of achieving creative accomplishments seems essential. The relationship between creativity and personality was a thoroughly studied subject almost from the very beginning of creativity research, yet even today it is still unclear whether emotion-related personality traits – specifically, trait emotional intelligence and emotional creativity – are the driving factors that help individuals with creative potential to gain creative achievements. In this study, 342 participants ( Mage = 21.87, SD = 5.84) took the Alternative Uses and Instances tasks (creative potential); the Inventory of Creative Activities and Achievements (ICAA); the Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire (TEIQue); and the Emotional Creativity Inventory (ECI). Results show that trait emotional intelligence (specifically, the sociability factor) and emotional creativity (namely, the novelty aspect) moderate the relationship between creative potential and creative achievements, while this relationship is mediated by creative activities. The study provides insight into which emotional personality traits can facilitate the path from creative potential to real-life creative achievements.