Flow, affect and visual creativity

Abstract

Flow (being in the zone) is purported to have positive consequences in terms of affect and performance; however, there is no empirical evidence about these links in visual creativity. Positive affect often—but inconsistently—facilitates creativity, and both may be linked to experiencing flow. This study aimed to determine relationships between these variables within visual creativity. Participants performed the creative mental synthesis task to simulate the creative process. Affect change (pre- vs. post-task) and flow were measured via questionnaires. The creativity of synthesis drawings was rated objectively and subjectively by judges. Findings empirically demonstrate that flow is related to affect improvement during visual creativity. Affect change was linked to productivity and self-rated creativity, but no other objective or subjective performance measures. Flow was unrelated to all external performance measures but was highly correlated with self-rated creativity; flow may therefore motivate perseverance towards eventual excellence rather than provide direct cognitive enhancement.

Keywords:

• Flow
• Affect
• Visual creativity
• Mental synthesis
• Creativity–mood relationship

This research was conducted in partial fulfilment of a Ph.D. studied by the first author at the University of Aberdeen.

This research was conducted in partial fulfilment of a Ph.D. studied by the first author at the University of Aberdeen.