| Peer-Reviewed

The Review on the Dark Sides of Creativity

Received: 7 June 2016     Published: 8 June 2016
Views:       Downloads:
Abstract

Most studies on creativity concentrate on its positive sides, and explore various ways to improve creativity. However, when we view creativity as an outcome or product, and evaluate creativity in terms of its appropriateness, we can not ignore the moral aspect. From the evil genius in the western culture, and taking advantage of loopholes or playing tricks in the eastern culture, we can find many dark sides of creativity. The intension of research on the dark sides of creativity is not suppressing creativity, but helping us to understand creativity more completely, and preventing harm to individuals or society arising from innovative activities. This paper reviews the concept, psychological mechanisms, and the current research domains of the dark sides of creativity. Finally, the author discuss several future research directions.

Published in Science Innovation (Volume 4, Issue 3)
DOI 10.11648/j.si.20160403.13
Page(s) 135-141
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2016. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Creativity, Dark Side, Psychological Mechanism, Unethical Behavior

References
[1] James, K., Clark, K., & Cropanzano, R. (1999). Positive and negative creativity in groups, institutions, and organizations: A model and theoretical extension. Creativity Research Journal, 12(3), 211–226.
[2] Cropley, D. H., Cropley, A. J., Kaufman, J. C., & Runco, M. A. (Eds.). (2010). The dark side of creativity. New York: Cambridge University Press.
[3] Gino, F. & Ariely, D. (2012). The dark side of creativity: Original thinkers can be more dishonest. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 102(3), 445–459.
[4] Gino, F. & Wiltermuth, S. S. (2014). Evil genius? How dishonesty can lead to greater creativity. Psychological Science, 25(4), 973–981.
[5] Janssen, O. (2003). Innovative behaviour and job involvement at the price of conflict and less satisfactory relations with co-workers. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 76, 347–364.
[6] Janssen, O., van de Vliert, E., & West, M. (2004). The bright and dark sides of individual and group innovation: a Special Issue introduction. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 25(2), 129–145.
[7] Moran, S. (2012). The Dark Side of Creativity. Psychology of Aesthetics Creativity and the Arts, 6(3), 295–296.
[8] Anderson, N., Potočnik, K., & Zhou, J. (2014). Innovation and creativity in organizations: A state-of-the-science review, prospective commentary, and guiding framework. Journal of Management, 40(5), 1297–1333.
[9] Runco, P. G. & Valtanen, J. (2010). Redefining creativity - analyzing definitions, collocations, and consequences. Journal of Creative Behavior, 44(3), 191–214.
[10] Simonton, D. K. (2012). Teaching creativity: Current findings, trends, and controversies in the psychology of creativity. Teaching of Psychology, 39(3): 217–222.
[11] Runco, M. A. (1993). Moral creativity: Intentional and unconventional. Creativity Research Journal, 6, 17–28.
[12] Mumford, M. D., Waples, E. P., Antes, A. L., Brown, R. P., Connelly, S., Murphy, S. T., & Devenport, L. D. (2010). Creativity and ethics: The relationship of creative and ethical problem-solving. Creativity Research Journal, 22(1), 74–89.
[13] Wang, L. (2011). The dark side of creativity (Doctoral dissertation, Northwestern University). Retrived from http://search.proquest.com.eproxy2.lib.hku.hk/dissertations/docview/872077288/459B9B1A10014DA8PQ/1?accountid=14548.
[14] Claxton, G., Craft, A., & Gardner, H. (2008). Concluding thoughts: good thinking - education for wise creativity. In A. Craft, H. Gardner & G. Claxton (Eds.), Creativity, wisdom, and trusteeship: exploring the role of education (pp. 168–176). Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Corwin Press.
[15] Baucus, M. S., Norton, W. I., Baucus, D. A., & Human, S. E. (2008). Fostering creativity and innovation without encouraging unethical behavior. Journal of Business Ethics, 81(1), 97–115.
[16] Runco, M. A. (2004). Creativity. Annual Review of Psychology, 55, 657–687.
[17] Runco, M. A. & Nemiro, J. (2003). Creativity in the moral domain: Integration and implications. Creativity Research Journal, 15(1), 91–105.
[18] Gruber, H. E. (1993). Creativity in the moral domain: Ought implies can implies create. Creativity Research Journal, 6(1&2), 3–15.
[19] Martin, M. W. 2006. Moral creativity in science and engineering. Science and Engineering Ethics, 12(3), 421–433.
[20] Kampylis, P. G. & Valtanen, J. 2010. Redefining creativity - analyzing definitions, collocations, and consequences. Journal of Creative Behavior, 44(3): 191-214.
[21] Sternberg, R. J. & Lubart, T. I. (1995). Defying the crowd: Cultivating creativity in a culture of conformity. New York, NY: Free Press.
[22] Gaynor, J. L. R. & Runco, M. A. (1992). Family size, birth-order, age-interval, and the creativity of children. The Journal of Creative Behavior, 26(2), 108–118.
[23] Guilford, J. P. (1967). The nature of human intelligence. New York: McGraw-Hill
[24] Simonton, D. K. (1999). Origins of Genius: A Psychology of Science. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
[25] Campbell, D. T. (1960). Blind variation and selective retentions in creative thought as in other knowledge processes. Psychological Review, 67(6), 380–400.
[26] Kneller, G. E. (1965). The Art and Science of Creativity. New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston.
[27] Keefe, J. A. & Magaro, P. A. (1980). Creativity and schizophrenia: An equivalence of cognitive processing. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 89(3), 390–398.
[28] Carson, S. H., Peterson, J. B., & Higgins, D. M. (2003). Decreased latent inhibition is associated with increased creative achievement in high-functioning individuals. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 85(3), 499–506.
[29] Richards, R. (1990). Everyday creativity, eminent creativity, and health: “Afterview”; for CRJ Issues on creativity and health. Creativity Research Journal, 3(4), 300–326.
[30] Eysenck, H. J. (2003). Creativity, personality, and the convergent-divergent continuum. In M. A. Runco (Ed.), Critical Creative Processes (pp. 95–114). Cresskill, NJ: Hampton.
[31] Murray, G. & Johnson, S. L. 2010. The clinical significance of creativity in bipolar disorder. Clinical Psychology Review, 30(6): 721-732.
[32] The neuregulin 1 gene is related to creativity in people with high intellectual achievement. Psychological Science, 20(9): 1070-1073.
[33] Kirton, M. (1976). Adaptors and innovators: A description and measure. Journal of Applied Psychology, 61(5), 622–629.
[34] Janssen, O. 2003. Innovative behaviour and job involvement at the price of conflict and less satisfactory relations with co-workers. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 76(3): 347-364.
[35] Taylor, A. & Greve, H. R. (2006). Superman or the fantastic four? Knowledge combination and experience in innovative teams. Academy of Management Journal, 49(4), 723–740.
[36] James, K. & Taylor, A. (2010). Positive creativity and negative creativity(and unintended consequence). In D. H. Cropley, A. J. Cropley, J. C. Kaufman & M. A. Runco (Eds.), The Dark Side of Creativity (pp. 33–56). New York: Cambridge University Press.
[37] Wu, J., Gong, Y., Song, J., & Zhang, Z. (2014, May). When and how does intrinsic motivation enhance creativity? the mediating role of creativity goals and the moderating role of extrinsic motivation. Paper presented at the 2014 IACMR Conference, Beijing, China.
[38] Amabile, T. M. (1988). A model of creativity and innovation in organizations. Research in Organizational Behavior, 10, 123–167.
[39] McPherson, M., Smith-Lovin, L., & Cook, J. M. (2001). Birds of a feather: Homophily in social networks. Annual Review of Sociology, 27, 415–444.
[40] Lang, D. (1985). Preconditions of three types of alienation in young managers and professionals. Journal of Occupational Behavior, 6(3), 171–182.
[41] Nair, N., & Vohra, N. (2010). An exploration of factors predicting work alienation of knowledge workers. Management Decision, 48(4), 600–615.
[42] Chiaburu, D. S., Diaz, I., & De Vos, A. (2013). Employee alienation: relationships with careerism and career satisfaction. Journal of Managerial Psychology, 28(1–2), 4–20.
[43] Yam, K. C., Chen, X. P., & Reynolds, S. J. (2014). Ego depletion and its paradoxical effects on ethical decision making. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 124(2), 204–214.
[44] Erez, M. & Nouri, R. (2010). Creativity: The influence of cultural, social, and work contexts. Management and Organization Review, 6(3), 351–370.
[45] Yao, X., Yang, Q., Dong, N. N., & Wang, L. (2010). Moderating effect of Zhong Yong on the relationship between creativity and innovation behaviour. Asian Journal of Social Psychology, 13(1), 53–57.
[46] Niu, W. (2012). Confucian ideology and creativity. The Journal of Creative Behavior, 46(4), 274–284.
Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Zhang Guangxi. (2016). The Review on the Dark Sides of Creativity. Science Innovation, 4(3), 135-141. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.si.20160403.13

    Copy | Download

    ACS Style

    Zhang Guangxi. The Review on the Dark Sides of Creativity. Sci. Innov. 2016, 4(3), 135-141. doi: 10.11648/j.si.20160403.13

    Copy | Download

    AMA Style

    Zhang Guangxi. The Review on the Dark Sides of Creativity. Sci Innov. 2016;4(3):135-141. doi: 10.11648/j.si.20160403.13

    Copy | Download

  • @article{10.11648/j.si.20160403.13,
      author = {Zhang Guangxi},
      title = {The Review on the Dark Sides of Creativity},
      journal = {Science Innovation},
      volume = {4},
      number = {3},
      pages = {135-141},
      doi = {10.11648/j.si.20160403.13},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.si.20160403.13},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.si.20160403.13},
      abstract = {Most studies on creativity concentrate on its positive sides, and explore various ways to improve creativity. However, when we view creativity as an outcome or product, and evaluate creativity in terms of its appropriateness, we can not ignore the moral aspect. From the evil genius in the western culture, and taking advantage of loopholes or playing tricks in the eastern culture, we can find many dark sides of creativity. The intension of research on the dark sides of creativity is not suppressing creativity, but helping us to understand creativity more completely, and preventing harm to individuals or society arising from innovative activities. This paper reviews the concept, psychological mechanisms, and the current research domains of the dark sides of creativity. Finally, the author discuss several future research directions.},
     year = {2016}
    }
    

    Copy | Download

  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - The Review on the Dark Sides of Creativity
    AU  - Zhang Guangxi
    Y1  - 2016/06/08
    PY  - 2016
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.si.20160403.13
    DO  - 10.11648/j.si.20160403.13
    T2  - Science Innovation
    JF  - Science Innovation
    JO  - Science Innovation
    SP  - 135
    EP  - 141
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2328-787X
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.si.20160403.13
    AB  - Most studies on creativity concentrate on its positive sides, and explore various ways to improve creativity. However, when we view creativity as an outcome or product, and evaluate creativity in terms of its appropriateness, we can not ignore the moral aspect. From the evil genius in the western culture, and taking advantage of loopholes or playing tricks in the eastern culture, we can find many dark sides of creativity. The intension of research on the dark sides of creativity is not suppressing creativity, but helping us to understand creativity more completely, and preventing harm to individuals or society arising from innovative activities. This paper reviews the concept, psychological mechanisms, and the current research domains of the dark sides of creativity. Finally, the author discuss several future research directions.
    VL  - 4
    IS  - 3
    ER  - 

    Copy | Download

Author Information
  • College of Economics and Management, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China

  • Sections