Priming creativity: Doing math reduces creativity and happiness whereas playing short online games enhance them
- Creative thinking is an indispensable cognitive skill that is becoming increasingly important. In the present research, we tested the impact of games on creativity and emotions in a between-subject online experiment with four conditions (N = 658). (1) participants played a simple puzzle game that allowed many solutions (priming divergent thinking); (2) participants played a short game that required one fitting solution (priming convergent thinking); (3) participants performed mental arithmetic; (4) passive control condition. Results show that divergent and convergent creativity were higher after playing games and lower after mental arithmetic. Positive emotions did not function as a mediator, even though they were also heightened after playing the games and lower after mental arithmetic. However, contrary to previous research, we found no direct effect of emotions, creative self-efficacy, and growth- vs. fixed on creative performance. We discuss practical implications for digital learning and application settings.
Author details: | Jennifer HaaseORCiDGND, Paul H. P. HanelORCiD |
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URN: | urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-585909 |
DOI: | https://doi.org/10.25932/publishup-58590 |
ISSN: | 1867-5808 |
Title of parent work (German): | Zweitveröffentlichungen der Universität Potsdam : Wirtschafts- und Sozialwissenschaftliche Reihe |
Publication series (Volume number): | Zweitveröffentlichungen der Universität Potsdam : Wirtschafts- und Sozialwissenschaftliche Reihe (154) |
Further contributing person(s): | André Renz, Swathi Krishnaraja, Romy Hilbig |
Publication type: | Postprint |
Language: | English |
Date of first publication: | 2023/03/28 |
Publishing institution: | Universität Potsdam |
Release date: | 2023/03/28 |
Tag: | creativity; enhancement; games; happiness; math; priming |
Issue: | 154 |
Number of pages: | 14 |
Organizational units: | Wirtschafts- und Sozialwissenschaftliche Fakultät / Wirtschaftswissenschaften |
DDC classification: | 3 Sozialwissenschaften / 37 Bildung und Erziehung / 370 Bildung und Erziehung |
Peer review: | Referiert |
Publishing method: | Open Access / Green Open-Access |
License (German): | CC-BY - Namensnennung 4.0 International |
External remark: | Bibliographieeintrag der Originalveröffentlichung/Quelle |