Do Multiple Identities Holders Create More? The Role of Ambivalence and Mindfulness

Abstract

It is prevalent for individuals in organizations to define themselves according to simultaneous, multiple, salient identities. When individuals adopt multiple identities, they have several cognitive frameworks in which to interpret a single event, resulting in ambivalent attitudes towards a single target. Similarly, identity plays a central role in arousing emotional reactions and individuals with multiple identities may have different reactions to a single event and thus have ambivalent emotions. Drawing on the ambivalence and identity literature, we propose that multiple identities (versus a single identity) would be positively related to individuals’ attitudinal and emotional ambivalence. As ambivalence has the potential to broaden one’s thinking and lead to cognitive flexibility, we further suggest that ambivalence may mediate the relationship between multiple identities and individual creative performance. We also suggest that individuals’ mindfulness may strengthen the relationship between ambivalence and creative performance and therefore strengthen the indirect effect of multiple identities on creative performance. The results from two multi-wave, multi-source survey studies confirmed our hypotheses. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.