Creativity in the West and the East: A Meta-Analysis of Cross-Cultural Differences

Abstract

ABSTRACT Cross-cultural differences in individual creativity have been examined extensively, particularly between Western and Eastern cultures, but empirical evidence has been mixed. In an attempt to clarify the inconclusive picture, we meta-analytically synthesized evidence on cross-cultural differences in individual creativity between “Westerners” and “Easterners.” We analyzed 221 effect sizes from 41 studies in a three-level meta-analytic model. We found a statistically significant small-to-medium overall effect (g = 0.329, p < .001), indicating higher creativity among Western individuals. The potential effect of study-, sample-, and assessment-related moderators on West – East differences in creativity was also examined. We found that Western superiority in creativity increased with sample age, showing that cross-cultural differences in creativity were more pronounced in samples with older subjects. Furthermore, our analyses revealed that task framing moderated the effect of culture on creativity: test-like creativity tasks were associated with Western advantages, whereas game-like tasks did not show any West – East differences. The further (statistically less robust) results of this study indicated the importance of creativity-assessment-related factors for cross-cultural differences in creativity. The findings and implications of this study are discussed, particularly in relation to potential (cross-cultural assessment) bias, an issue that is very likely in the context of cross-cultural creativity.