Creative We Stand: Exploring the Links between American National Identity, Multicultural Exposure and Creativity.

Abstract

Previous research has established a positive relationship between multicultural exposure and creativity (e.g., Leung & Chiu, 2010; Maddux, Adam, & Galinsky, 2010). However, little research has explored how identification with one’s home nation may influence this relationship. Across three studies, I demonstrate that differences in national identity can both facilitate and inhibit creative performance. Study one surveyed participants across two creativity tasks and a self-report measure of national glorification and national attachment. National glorification is characterized as a tendency to view one’s home nation as superior to other nations; in contrast, national attachment is simply a love of country (Roccas, Klar, & Liviatan, 2006). Study two implemented a longitudinal design to survey participants’ level of glorification and creativity both before and after they completed cultural immersion projects abroad. Study three replicates and extends Study 2 by examining both glorification and attachment among students who participated in a variety of study abroad programs. Results across the studies showed that glorification negatively predicted creativity, while attachment positively predicted creativity, controlling for individual differences. Moreover, glorification negatively predicted change in creativity after multicultural exposure, while attachment positively predicted change in creativity following multicultural exposure, controlling for differences in cultural immersion/study abroad programs and personal need for structure. These studies have important theoretical and practical implications. Firstly, these findings show that individual differences in national identity play a critical role in the relationship between multiculturalism and creativity. Second, these studies fill an important gap in the existing literature by using longitudinal field studies, thus providing both pre and post travel measures of creativity. Third, the practical implications of this line of research speak directly to the psychological costs and benefits of international travel within business and educational contexts. The current findings clearly show that not everyone is equally poised to reap the benefits of multicultural experiences. Further, the findings suggest that training directed to individual differences of national identity may help facilitate positive psychological outcomes following exposure to other cultures.