Joint Action Enhances Cohesion and Positive Affect, but Suppresses Aspects of Creativity When Combined With Shared Goals.

Reneeta Mogan,Joseph Bulbulia,Ronald Fischer

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2018.02790

Reneeta Mogan, Joseph Bulbulia + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.02790

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Abstract

We aimed to examine the link between two types of joint action (synchrony and asynchrony) and creativity (both divergent thinking and convergent thinking) using an established experimental paradigm. A secondary aim was to replicate and extend the amplified positive effects of shared intentionality (i.e., having a shared common goal) on social and affective responses. Participants (N = 138) were randomly assigned to move in synchrony, move in asynchrony, or passively observe others moving. To induce shared goals, participants were provided with either a shared group goal of working together or an individual goal of focusing on the individual participant’s own movements. First, our results revealed that joint action in combination with group goal conditions decreases convergent thinking, but we found no support for differences in divergent thinking. This indicates that it may be the underlying shared goals combined with joint action that influences convergent thinking, and not synchronized movements. Second, we replicated synchrony’s positive effect on cohesion and positive affect. These findings are consistent with evolutionary theories of group rituals as a means for inducing solidarity, and extend previous findings by showing that joint action with shared goals may potentially induce shared patterns of thought.

Highlights

Rituals have been a fundamental part of human life for millennia possibly due to tacit evolutionary functions of increasing solidarity and cooperation (Hagen and Bryant, 2003; Haidt et al, 2008; Henrich, 2015)
While synchrony may be beneficial in some circumstances, it may be potentially detrimental in circumstances requiring more individuality and innovation rather than convergence to cultural group norms
Divergent Thinking The results showed no statistically significant main or interaction effects of movement and goal, Fmax = 1.37, p = 0.257, on fluency, creativity, and novelty

Summary

Introduction

Rituals have been a fundamental part of human life for millennia possibly due to tacit evolutionary functions of increasing solidarity and cooperation (Hagen and Bryant, 2003; Haidt et al, 2008; Henrich, 2015). Synchrony and Creativity affect among group members (Wiltermuth and Heath, 2009; Reddish et al, 2013; Tschacher et al, 2014; Mogan et al, 2017). These effects appear to be amplified when people share a common goal (Reddish et al, 2013), which supports Tomasello et al.’s (2005) suggestion that shared intentionality (having a shared goal) is a crucial component of human evolution and the emergence of complex cultural traditions. While synchrony may be beneficial in some circumstances (i.e., to induce positive social and affective effects), it may be potentially detrimental in circumstances requiring more individuality and innovation rather than convergence to cultural group norms

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