Rising up to the ‘challenge’? The role of need for closure and situational appraisals in creative performance

Abstract

In two studies, we examined the influence of need for closure (NFC), and motivational states of challenge and threat on creativity. NFC is defined as a desire for quick and unambiguous answers to questions and an aversion to uncertainty. Creativity tasks usually elicit uncertainty; we predicted that high (vs. low) NFC people would decline in creativity due to the distress caused by creativity tasks. We argued that the appraisal of the creativity task as challenge would increase creative performance while appraising the same as threat would decrease creativity. We suggested, however, that high NFC individuals would show low creativity regardless of the induced state of threat or challenge, experiencing constant distress associated with creativity tasks. However, low NFC individuals would be more creative in a challenge state; however in the threat condition, they would show less creativity. In Study 1, challenge and threat were induced using mindset manipulations and in Study 2, challenge and threat states were invoked by implementing false feedback of success and failure and perceived resource gain or loss. The manipulations were followed by the Alternative Uses Brick task to measure creativity. Results confirmed the assumptions and were discussed in the context of need for closure theory.