title: Self-awareness, self-evaluation, and creativity.
abstract: The present research examined when self-evaluation influences creativity. Based on objective self-awareness theory, the authors predicted that feeling able to improve would buffer against the detrimental effects of self-evaluation on creativity. Two experiments manipulated self-evaluation (varying self-awareness, Study 1; providing objective performance standards, Study 2) and perceived ability to improve potential failure on the creativity task. Self-evaluation reduced creativity (generating remote associates, finding unusual uses for a knife) in both experiments, but only when people did not expect to improve. When people felt able to improve, self-evaluation did not affect creativity. Connections between self-motives, creativity, and defensiveness are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, 27402-6170, USA. p_silvia@uncg.edu
authors.forename: Paul J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Silvia
authors.forename: Ann G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Phillips
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D001364:Awareness; D003405:Creativity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011340:Problem Solving; D012649:Self Concept; D012647:Self-Assessment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires