Abstract
Environmental orderliness can affect both self-control behaviors and creative thinking; however, little research has focused on the moderators of this effect. In this study, we investigated the moderating effect of trait self-control on environmental orderliness, which influences both state self-control behaviors and creative thinking. In Experiment 1, we explored whether trait self-control could moderate the effect of environmental orderliness on state behavioral self-control. The participants have been exposed to an orderly or a disorderly room and asked to complete a breath-holding task to measure self-control. The results showed that low trait self-control participants were more self-controlled in the orderly environment, whereas the self-control of those with high trait self-control was not affected by environmental orderliness. In Experiment 2, the moderating effect of trait self-control on environmental orderliness affecting creative thinking was investigated with a picture priming orderliness and the Alternative Uses Test. As expected, the participants with high trait self-control in the disorderly environment had better creative thinking performance, although there was no difference in the performance of those with low trait self-control between the two environmental orderliness conditions. The results demonstrated that trait self-control could moderate the dual effect of environmental orderliness. The present study sheds light on the effect of environmental orderliness and contributes to the understanding of the common mechanism of the dual effect; also, it has practical implications for the shaping and cultivation of individuals' self-control behaviors and creative thinking.
Highlights
Environmental orderliness refers to the degree of order or disorder of the physical environment
Our moderating hypotheses were supported: the results revealed that an orderly environment was only beneficial to behavioral self-control for individuals with low trait self-control, whereas a disorderly environment only had a positive effect on the creative thinking of those with high trait self-control
Matching individuals with low trait self-control with order can have a positive influence on their behavioral self-control without impairing creative thinking; on the other hand, matching those with high trait self-control with disorder can be beneficial to their creative thinking without impairing their self-control behaviors
Summary
Environmental orderliness refers to the degree of order or disorder of the physical environment. Environmental orderliness has been shown to affect behavioral self-control and creative thinking. Environmental Orderliness, Self-Control, and Creativity to be associated with negative consequences, has been shown to promote creative thinking (Chen et al, 2013; Vohs et al, 2013). Self-control and creative thinking play important roles in promoting individuals’ development and social progress. The study of the influence of environmental orderliness on self-control and creative thinking does enrich the literature in the related fields; it may have practical implications for the shaping and cultivation of individuals’ selfcontrol and creative thinking. To date there has been no research on whether there are individual differences in the dual effect of environmental orderliness (environmental orderliness affects both self-control and creative thinking). We aimed at answering these questions by focusing on the moderating effects of trait self-control on the dual effect of environmental orderliness
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