(The) positive effect of fearful attachment state on creativity

Abstract

As task situations across settings become more competitive and threatening, people face greater challenge being creative amidst these increasingly unfavorable conditions. We used the state-based attachment perspective and a gain/loss frame analysis to examine the temporary attachment state that leads to creativity in a threatening task situation. Data from four experiments supported our hypothesis that individuals primed to have a temporary fearful (vs. secure) attachment state would show higher creativity related to a loss-framed task, but not in the context of a gain frame. We discuss multiple mechanisms explaining the fearful attachment state’s positive effect on creativity within a threatening task context.