Wild and free: Unpredictability and spaciousness as predictors of creative performance
Certain features of nature imagery can promote creativity in individuals
The aim of this study was to explore the potential of nature imagery for increasing creativity in individuals. The study was inspired by research demonstrating the beneficial effects of nature imagery on human health, well-being, and cognitive performance. The study was also based on research indicating that unpredictability and spaciousness can promote creative performance.
The study was conducted with 120 students from five different classes of a Dutch high school. For each class of students, imagery presenting green settings was displayed before and during a creative drawing task. The imagery differed for each class, with four nature conditions varying in unpredictability and spaciousness and one urban scenery condition.
The “Test for Creative Thinking-Drawing Production” was used to measure the creativity of the students’ drawings. Two self-report measures were also used: one focusing on creativity, the other on affect. Creative performance results indicated that participants exposed to unpredictable scenery performed more creatively than participants exposed to predictable scenery. Additionally, participants exposed to spacious scenery scored higher on the test of creativity than participants exposed to non-spacious scenery. Creativity scores were the highest, however, for participants exposed to scenery high in both unpredictability and spaciousness. Self-report measures linked spaciousness with higher perceptions of creativity. Variations across nature scenery did not influence affect scores.
While these findings indicate that nature imagery can promote creativity in individuals, the researchers suggest that follow-up studies are warranted to further clarify the role of spaciousness, unpredictability, and other creativity-enhancing features of nature imagery. The researchers also suggest that their findings – by focusing on creative versus cognitive performance — call attention to previously neglected consequences within attention restoration theory (ART). They propose that nature imagery “might not only restore, but also ‘widen’ attention and ‘instigate’ more creative processes.”
Citation
van Rompay, T.J.L., Jol, T., (2016). Wild and free: Unpredictability and spaciousness as predictors of creative performance. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 48,
