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Article
Multicultural experience, idea receptiveness, and creativity
Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology
  • Angela K. Y. LEUNG, Singapore Management University
  • Chi-Yue CHIU, Nanyang Technological University
Publication Type
Journal Article
Version
acceptedVersion
Publication Date
3-2010
Abstract

Inspired by recent advances in creative cognition research, the authors examined in the current research some creative benefits of multicultural experiences. Study 1 showed that European American undergraduates had better creative performance immediately after being exposed to American and Chinese cultures or to a hybrid culture formed by fusing American and Chinese cultures; this effect was also observed 5 to 7 days after the initial exposure. Studies 2 and 3 showed that exposure to multicultural experiences is positively related to the likelihood of engaging in some creativity-supporting processes—generation of unconventional ideas (Study 2) and receptiveness to ideas originated from foreign cultures (Study 3). Finally, in Studies 4 and 5, the authors found that need for cognitive closure (or the need for firm answers) and existential terror significantly attenuated the positive link between multicultural experiences and receptiveness to ideas originated from foreign cultures. The authors discussed these findings’ implications on multicultural learning and creativity.

Keywords
  • multicultural experience,
  • receptiveness to foreign ideas,
  • creativity,
  • need for cognitive closure,
  • terror management theory,
  • motivated cultural cognition
Identifier
10.1177/0022022110361707
Publisher
SAGE
Copyright Owner and License
Authors
Creative Commons License
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International
Additional URL
https://doi.org/10.1177/0022022110361707
Citation Information
Angela K. Y. LEUNG and Chi-Yue CHIU. "Multicultural experience, idea receptiveness, and creativity" Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology Vol. 41 Iss. 5-6 (2010) p. 723 - 741 ISSN: 0022-0221
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/kayeeangela_leung/2/