Intergroup Competition, Group Members’ Narcissism, and Competitive Perceptions as Determinants of Group Creativity

Mixed findings on the effects of intergroup competition on group creativity indicate the need for more sophisticated models that can accommodate individual differences in how people respond to competitive cues and contribute to group performance. This study examined group members' narcissism, competitive perceptions, and discussion-facilitating behaviors as antecedents for the group creative process. A sample of 92 three-person groups (N = 276 participants) was randomly assigned to either the low, medium, or high intergroup competition condition and tasked with developing a creative action plan. There was a curvilinear effect of narcissism on the relationship between intergroup competition and competitive perceptions, demonstrating narcissistic group members' heightened sensitivity to competition. Also, narcissism strengthened the positive relationship between competitive perceptions and discussion-facilitating behavior. Finally, group members' discussion-facilitating behavior led to greater group creativity through group idea elaboration. Overall, our findings suggest that narcissism amplifies the performance-facilitating effects of intergroup competition for group creativity.