Creativity as an Attribute of Positive Psychology: The Impact of Positive and Negative Affect on the Creative Personality

Abstract

Positive psychology explores how optimism can lead to health, happiness, and creativity. However, questions remain as to how affective states influence creativity. Data on creative personality, optimism, pessimism, positive and negative affect, and current and usual happiness ratings were collected on 161 college students enrolled in an introductory psychology class. Results indicated that both positive and negative affect, usual self-reported happiness ratings, and pessimism contributed to a creative personality in college students. Demographic characteristics such as gender, age, and class level were also factors. Males, younger students, and higher academic level college students displayed more creative personality characteristics. Findings suggest that both positive and negative attributes influence creativity.

KEYWORDS:

• positive psychology
• creativity
• creative personality
• positive affect
• negative affect
• optimism
• pessimism

An earlier version of this article was presented at the 2006 Ohio Psychological Association (OPA) Convention in Worthington, Ohio, as a part of OPA programming as a continuing education workshop titled, “Gender Similarities and Differences in Coping with Depression Through Creativity and Positive Psychology Therapies.”