The creative cliff illusion

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2005620117
• Publication Date: 2020-08-04T00:32:08Z
• Authors: Brian J. Lucas; Loran F. Nordgren
• Keywords: Ideation; Value (mathematics); Creativity technique

Significance Creativity research across the social sciences seeks to elucidate factors that enhance and stifle creativity. We demonstrate people systematically misunderstand their own creativity an ideation session. Eight studies found expect decline session when it, in fact, tends improve or persist (we call this misprediction creative cliff illusion). These beliefs are consequential because they lead undervalue ideation: They exhibit less task persistence lower performance. This documents a fundamental disconnect between people’s reality of how emerges over time. It demonstrates value understanding has implications for facilitating individuals organizations institutions.