Publication Type
Journal Article
Version
acceptedVersion
Publication Date
12-2011
Abstract
This research examines the mediating role of emotions implicated in the multicultural experience—creativity link. We propose that when individuals are dealing with apparent cultural contradictions upon encountering two cultures simultaneously, mentally juxtaposing dissonant cultural stimuli could lower positive affect or increase negative affect, which could in turn induce a deeper level of cognitive processing of cultural discrepancies and inspire creativity. Two studies compared dual cultural exposure versus single cultural exposure among bicultural Singaporeans (Study 1) and compared self-relevant (jointly presenting local and foreign cultures) versus self-irrelevant (jointly presenting foreign cultures only) dual cultural exposure among monocultural Taiwanese (Study 2). As in past research, dual cultural exposure promotes creativity, particularly if one presented culture is self-relevant. Further, this effect was mediated by a less positive or a more negative emotional state. These findings illuminate the underlying influence of emotions activated by simultaneous exposure to diverse cultures.
Keywords
Multicultural individuals, creativity, bicultural individuals, Singapore, Taiwan
Discipline
Asian Studies | Multicultural Psychology | Personality and Social Contexts | Social Psychology
Research Areas
Psychology
Publication
Journal of Social Issues
Volume
67
Issue
4
First Page
806
Last Page
824
ISSN
0022-4537
Identifier
10.1111/j.1540-4560.2011.01729.x
Publisher
Wiley
Citation
CHENG, Chi-Ying, LEUNG, Angela K. Y., & WU, Tsung-Yu.(2011). Going Beyond the Multicultural Experience-Creativity Link: The Mediating Role of Emotions. Journal of Social Issues, 67(4), 806-824.
Available at: https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/soss_research/1076
Copyright Owner and License
Authors
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Additional URL
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-4560.2011.01729.x
Included in
Asian Studies Commons, Multicultural Psychology Commons, Personality and Social Contexts Commons, Social Psychology Commons