Abstract
While some evidence has linked the way individuals define themselves in relation to others (independent versus interdependent self-construal) to creativity, little is known about the underlying mechanism in explaining why and how self-construal influences creativity. Integrating approach-avoidance motivation theory and the dual pathway to creativity model, this research focuses on the motivational and cognitive mechanisms that transfer the effects of self-construal on creativity. Specifically, we expect that independent self-construal is a driver of creativity because it facilitates individuals’ approach motivation, which in turn increases flexible information processing. To test the three-stage mediation model, one experiment and one survey study were conducted. In Study 1, in a sample of 231 Dutch students, self-construal was manipulated by a story-writing task; approach-avoidance motivation, cognitive flexibility, and creativity were measured. In Study 2, self-construal, approach (and avoidance) motivation, cognitive flexibility, and creativity were all measured in a second sample of Dutch students (N = 146). The results of two studies supported the three-stage mediation model, showing that approach motivation and cognitive flexibility together mediated the effects of self-construal on creativity. Limitations and implications for future research are discussed.
Highlights
Since the intriguing publication of Markus and Kitayama (1991) on self-construal, research concerning the implications of individuals’ self-construal on cognition, emotion, and motivation has grown rapidly
We propose higher independent self-construal is associated with higher approach motivation, whereas higher interdependent self-construal is linked to higher avoidance motivation
Results from Confirmatory Factorial Analysis (CFA) analysis showed that the hypothesized baseline model fitted the data well [χ2(48) = 69.03, p < 0.05; comparative fit index (CFI) = 0.95, Tucher-Lewis index (TLI) = 0.94, root-mean-square error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.06, RSMR = 0.06]
Summary
Since the intriguing publication of Markus and Kitayama (1991) on self-construal, research concerning the implications of individuals’ self-construal on cognition, emotion, and motivation has grown rapidly (see Cross et al, 2011). Individuals differ in the extent to which they see themselves as autonomous, distinct and unique (independent self-construal) versus as dependent and integral part of larger social groups (interdependent self-construal; Markus and Kitayama, 1991; Kitayama et al, 1997; Gardner et al, 1999). One important consequence of self-construal is that individuals with different self-construals vary in creativity, defined as generating novel and potentially useful ideas (Amabile, 1983). Some studies have provided preliminary evidence showing that individuals high in independent self-construal relative to those low in independent self-construal or high in interdependent selfconstrual are more divergent and creative in their thinking (Ng, 2003; Goncalo and Staw, 2006; Wiekens and Stapel, 2008; Jin et al, 2016; Wang and Wang, 2016).
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