Structural and financial constraints - enabling or inhibiting creativity?
Year: 2018
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Although creativity is a widely studied concept, the relationship between constraints and\ncreativity is still a topic that offers a great deal of conflicting views. Moreover, constrained\ncreativity processes seem to be widely implemented throughout the business sector. The aim\nof this thesis is therefore to provide insight and contribute to a deeper understanding of the\nrelationship between constraints and creativity. This will be done by investigating whether\nfinancial and/or task structure constraints enable or inhibit creativity, measuring and\ncomparing mean creativity scores (average effects) and the most creative ideas (extreme\nvalue effects). We will further examine whether the average and extreme value effects of a\nfinancial constraint is dependent on task structure, and whether bounded and unbounded\ncreativity processes are moderated by approach and/or avoidance motivation. Approach\nmotivated individuals are directed by positive and desirable opportunities, while avoidance\nmotivated individuals are directed by avoiding negative and undesirable outcomes. To\ninvestigate these relationships, we have conducted an online ideation experiment. Creativity\nis measured through appropriateness and novelty, individually.\nOur results indicate that constraints enable average creativity, while inhibiting extreme value\ncreativity. Moreover, the effect of a constrained creativity processes depends on whether the\ninventor is approach or avoidance motivated. Our results will now be described in more\ndetail. Financial and task structure constrains are found to have a significant, positive affect\non mean novelty, and a zero effect on mean appropriateness. Financial and task structure\nconstraints are found to have a significant, negative affect on both the appropriateness and\nthe novelty extreme value score. Further, our findings suggest that the effect of a financial\nconstraint on creativity is strengthened by a task structure constraint. Approach motivated\nindividuals are found to be less creative when being constrained, while avoidance motivated\nindividuals are found to be more creative in constrained conditions.
Language: English
Subfield: Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2899413693