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Publication
“You are never too old to be young”: The effect of priming a childlike mindset through walt disney pictures on divergent thinking
Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
A criatividade é considerada uma característica chave para ocorrer inovação nesta
“era da criatividade” que estamos a viver presentemente na sociedade actual. O apelo à
criatividade no nosso dia-a-dia levou a que a investigação se debruçasse sobre a identificação
de formas eficazes de aumentar a criatividade. “Pensar como um criança” tem sido um mantra
frequentemente apregoado como fórmula para o aumento da criatividade - nomeadamente o
pensamento divergente - porém, este cliché popular tem recebido quase nenhuma atenção de
investigação empírica. Procuramos primar os nossos participantes com um mindset de
criança, através da exposição do vídeo de abertura da Walt Disney Pictures, prevendo que isto
iria aumentar o desempenho em medidas de pensamento divergente - nomeadamente em
fluência, flexibilidade e originalidade. Resultados para as medidas de flexibilidade e
originalidade não foram significativas. Por outro lado, a fluência aparentou ser ligeiramente
inibida após exposição ao estímulo da Disney. Surpreendentemente, numa das condições de
controle onde os participantes assistiram ao vídeo de abertura da 20th Century Fox, foram
encontrados os níveis mais elevados de fluência. Discutimos os nossos resultados à luz de
teorias de activação e foco regulatório, processamento local e global, e os efeitos cognitivos e
comportamentais da nostalgia. Deliberamos ainda de forma breve sobre a conceito de
honestidade (associado à marca Disney) no pensamento divergente. Limitações do estudo são
discutidas e direcções futuras são fornecidas.
ABSTRACT: Being creative is considered a key characteristic for innovation in the so-called “creativity age” that we are currently living in modern society. The cry for creativity in our day-to-day lives has been a major driver in focusing investigation on the search for effective ways in which creativity may be enhanced. “Thinking like a child” has been an oft touted mantra as a formula for increasing creativity - namely divergent thinking (DT) - yet this popular cliché has received close to no empirical investigation. We sought to prime individuals with a childlike mindset through exposure to the Walt Disney Pictures opening logo video clip, predicting that this would increase performance in DT measures - specifically in fluency, flexibility and originality. Results for flexibility and originality scores were not significant. Unexpectedly, fluency was shown to be slightly inhibited when exposed to the Disney stimulus. Surprisingly, in one of the control conditions, where participants watched the 20th Century Fox opening logo video, fluency scores were highest. Our results are discussed in light of behaviour activation and regulatory-focus theories, global and local processing, and the cognitive and behavioural effects of nostalgia as well as briefly deliberating over the concept of honesty (associated to the Disney brand) and DT. Limitations of the study are also discussed and future directions are provided.
ABSTRACT: Being creative is considered a key characteristic for innovation in the so-called “creativity age” that we are currently living in modern society. The cry for creativity in our day-to-day lives has been a major driver in focusing investigation on the search for effective ways in which creativity may be enhanced. “Thinking like a child” has been an oft touted mantra as a formula for increasing creativity - namely divergent thinking (DT) - yet this popular cliché has received close to no empirical investigation. We sought to prime individuals with a childlike mindset through exposure to the Walt Disney Pictures opening logo video clip, predicting that this would increase performance in DT measures - specifically in fluency, flexibility and originality. Results for flexibility and originality scores were not significant. Unexpectedly, fluency was shown to be slightly inhibited when exposed to the Disney stimulus. Surprisingly, in one of the control conditions, where participants watched the 20th Century Fox opening logo video, fluency scores were highest. Our results are discussed in light of behaviour activation and regulatory-focus theories, global and local processing, and the cognitive and behavioural effects of nostalgia as well as briefly deliberating over the concept of honesty (associated to the Disney brand) and DT. Limitations of the study are also discussed and future directions are provided.
Description
Dissertação de Mestrado apresentada no ISPA - Instituto Universitário para obtenção do grau de Mestre em Psicologia Social e das Organizações.
Keywords
Mindset de criança Criatividade Pensamento divergente Primar Disney Childlike mindset Creativity Divergent thinking Priming