A meta-analysis of 25 years of mood-creativity research: Hedonic tone, activation, or regulatory focus?

Abstract

This meta-analysis synthesized 102 effect sizes reflecting the relation between specific moods and creativity. Effect sizes overall revealed that positive moods produce more creativity than mood-neutral controls (r= .15), but no significant differences between negative moods and mood-neutral controls (r= -.03) or between positive and negative moods (r= .04) were observed. Creativity is enhanced most by positive mood states that are activating and associated with an approach motivation and promotion focus (e.g., happiness), rather than those that are deactivating and associated with an avoidance motivation and prevention focus (e.g., relaxed). Negative, deactivating moods with an approach motivation and a promotion focus (e.g., sadness) were not associated with creativity, but negative, activating moods with an avoidance motivation and a prevention focus (fear, anxiety) were associated with lower creativity, especially when assessed as cognitive flexibility. With a few exceptions, these results generalized across experimental and correlational designs, populations (students vs. general adult population), and facet of creativity (e.g., fluency, flexibility, originality, eureka/insight). The authors discuss theoretical implications and highlight avenues for future research on specific moods, creativity, and their relationships.

Flow, affect and visual creativity

“…Flow has also been linked to performance in other domains, including musical creativity (MacDonald et al, 2006), and positive affect can lead to more divergent thought (Baas et al, 2008;Fredrickson & Branigan, 2012). Therefore, higher flow and positive affect scores were predicted to relate to superior creative performance.…”

“…Initial positive affect tends to increase divergent, generative creativity (Baas et al, 2008), because positive affect facilitates associative thought-behaviour patterns (e.g., broaden-and-build theory: Fredrickson & Branigan, 2012). However, negative affect promotes problem finding, perseverance, and reframing, which also can facilitate creative problem-solving (Kaufmann & Vosberg, 1997).…”

“…Research has focused on how initial affect influences creativity (Baas, De Dreu, & Nijstad, 2008), with less information on how creativity influences affect. Creative action may influence affect by triggering the experience of flow, a phenomenon and theory first detailed by Csíkszentmihályi (1975;1990/2002.…”

Fostering creativity from an emotional perspective: Do teachers recognise and handle students’ emotions?

“…Although some of their strategies can be considered as generic approaches to helping students handle emotions in general, these strategies were specifically applied while the students were engaged in design activities. It can be argued that the use of these strategies can play a helpful role for enabling creativity in the design process, because emotions are closely related to creativity (e.g., Baas et al 2008;De Dreu et al 2008;Filipowicz 2006;Perry 1989;Russ and Schafer 2006;Sung and Choi 2009;Van Kleef et al 2010) and creativity is central to design (Lawson 2006). Teachers may use these strategies to help cultivate a joyful learning environment for learning to be creative.…”

“…However, the literature does show a clear link between creativity and emotions (e.g., Baas et al 2008;De Dreu et al 2008;Filipowicz 2006;Perry 1989;Russ and Schafer 2006;Sung and Choi 2009;Van Kleef et al 2010). As design is closely related to creativity and creativity is central to design (Lawson 2006), it can be argued that emotions have an effect on the design process, and therefore influence the design outcome.…”