Every Cloud Has a Silver Lining: The Positive Effect of Fearful Attachment State on Creative Idea Generation

Abstract As task situations across settings become more competitive and threatening, people face greater challenges in being creative amid these increasingly unfavorable conditions. We used the state-based attachment perspective and a gain/loss frame analysis to examine the temporary attachment state that leads to creative idea generation in a threatening task situation. Experimental data supported our hypothesis that full-time workers primed to have a temporary fearful (vs. secure) attachment state would generate more creative ideas related to a loss-framed task, but not in the context of a gain frame. We discuss potential mechanisms explaining the fearful attachment state’s positive effect on creativity in a threatening task context.