Opposite Effect of Social Evaluation on Creative Idea Generation in Early and Middle Adolescents
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to examine how social evaluation influences creative idea generation, and whether this effect develops with age. To do so, early adolescents, middle adolescents, and late adolescents performed a creative task either alone or under the supervision of an adult examiner. Three major findings emerged: 1) the social evaluation by an adult expert is detrimental to creativity in children but 2) beneficial in adolescence, while 3) it has no effect on late adolescents. The present study is the first to provide evidence that social evaluation by an adult has an opposite effect on creative idea generation in children and adolescents, and offers new directions to investigate social influences on creativity from a developmental perspective.
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The presence of others tends to reduce the number of ideas generated and to induce a fixation on a limited number of ideas conforming to those produced by others.
“For example, unless guarded against, the presence of others tends to reduce the number of ideas generated and to induce a fixation on a limited number of ideas conforming to those produced by others (Camarda et al. 2021; Goldenberg and Wiley 2011; Kohn and Smith 2011; Paulus and Dzindolet 1993; Putman and Paulus 2009; Rietzschel et al. 2006).”
From Creativity, Critical Thinking, Communication, and Collaboration: Assessment, Certification, and Promotion of 21st Century Skills for the Future of Work and Education (2023) · cites this paper as Camarda et al. 2021
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- Authors
- Camarda, A., Bouhours, L., Osmont, A., Le Masson, P., Weil, B., Borst, G., & Cassotti, M.
- Affiliations
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
- Aix-Marseille Université (FR)
- Center for Management Science, MINES ParisTech-PSL Research University (I3 UMR CNRS 9217)
- Corresponding author
- Camarda, Anaëlle
- Venue
- Creativity Research Journal
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2021-03-28
- Volume
- 33
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 399-410
- ISSN
- 1040-0419 (ISSN-L)
- 1532-6934
- OpenAlex
- W3149208598
- Cited by
- 22
- References
- 59
- Citations by year
- 2026: 8 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 3
- FWCI
- 2.66
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Creativity Research Journal (publishedVersion)
- HAL (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR- ANR-18-CE26-0013-01 AppLeaC)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Creativity in Education and Neuroscience
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Psychological and Educational Research Studies
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Child and Animal Learning Development
- Keywords
- social evaluation, creative idea generation, creativity, adolescents, age differences, early adolescence, middle adolescence, late adolescence, adult supervision
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