More Innovative, More Delay? A Self-Control Model of the Effect of Creativity on Procrastination

Abstract

Existing research on creativity mainly investigates abundant antecedents of creativity to reveal how to foster it, which is based on the assumption that creativity is always beneficial. Recently, several scholars indicated that creativity might result in potentially negative consequences. However, the research line of the dark side of creativity only focused on morality- and interpersonal issues, whereas task-related behavioral consequences at work rarely attracted attention. Drawing on the integrative self-control theory, the present research hypothesized that creativity leads to disinhibition and then undermines self-control, which in turn results in self-control failure as well as more procrastination at work. Besides, we also proposed the boundary condition of this relationship. We conducted two experimental studies, one multi-wave survey study, and one diary study to examine our theoretical model. Cross-cultural experimental studies revealed that induced creative mindset had a causal influence on state self-control and intention to procrastination. The survey study revealed that creativity had a negative effect on state self-control and a positive effect on procrastination at work, and that job autonomy strengthened such effects. The diary study revealed that within-person creative engagement had a negative effect on state self-control and a positive effect on procrastination at work within the same day, and that job autonomy strengthened such effects. Our research provides a novel perspective on the dark side of creativity and empirical evidence for the hypothesis of creative disinhibition. Theoretical and practical implications are also discussed.