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Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin
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Illuminating the Dark Side of Creative Expression: Assimilation Needs and the Consequences of Creative Action Following Mortality Salience

Jamie Arndt

University of Missouri-Columbia, arndtj{at}missouri.edu

Clay Routledge

University of Missouri-Columbia

Jeff Greenberg

University of Arizona

Kennon M. Sheldon

University of Missouri-Columbia

Previous research indicates that mortality salience and creative behavior combine to increase feelings of guilt, presumably over the disruption to social connection elicited by the call for innovative expression. The present studies examined whether satiating assimilation motives by highlighting conformity to others reduces this effect (Study 1) and facilitates positive psychological engagement (Study 2). Study 1 used a 2 (conformity vs. neutral feedback)x 2 (mortality salience vs. control)x 2 (creative task vs. noncreative task) design and had participants complete a self-report measure of guilt. Study 2 used a 2 (mortality salience vs. control)x 2 (other goal task vs. self-goal task) design, and after a creativity exercise, had participants complete measures of positive mood, vitality, and creative problem solving. Results indicated attending to assimilation needs reduced the elevated guilt that follows the juxtaposition of mortality salience and creative behavior and also increased a sense of positive engagement. Implications are briefly discussed.

Key Words: terror management • creativity • growth motivation • emotions

Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, Vol. 31, No. 10, 1327-1339 (2005)
DOI: 10.1177/0146167205274690
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C. D. Routledge and J. Arndt
Creative Terror Management: Creativity as a Facilitator of Cultural Exploration After Mortality Salience
Pers Soc Psychol Bull, April 1, 2009; 35(4): 493 - 505.
[Abstract] [PDF]