Identity and Creativity

Emerging adulthood is a period for exploration of identity aspects including occupational identity, and creative activity may contribute to or result from this exploration. Grounded in several conceptions of identity, particularly that of Erik Erikson, this research tested the prediction that identity processes predict creativity. In 2 studies (N = 250), university students completed measures of identity (Berzonsky's Identity Styles Inventory; Cheek's Aspects of Identity Questionnaire), plus creative potential (Creative Personality Scale), accomplishments (behavior checklist and open-ended listing), and products (drawings, stories). In keeping with prediction, these findings demonstrated that those who are information-seeking in style and emphasize their personal identity have the greatest potential creativity and evidence the greatest number of creative accomplishments in their young lives, whereas those emphasizing normative or collective identities evidenced fewer accomplishments. These identity variables contributed over and above the effects of gender and verbal ability. Results fit well with past findings in the creativity literature but represent a new direction for identity research and theory.