The Happier One Is, the More Creative One Becomes: An Investigation on Inspirational Positive Emotions from Both Subjective Well-Being and Satisfaction at Work
Author(s)
Leo Yuan*
ABSTRACT
The main purpose of this research is to show that positive thinking, from subjective well-being and job satisfaction, will greatly enhance inspirational experience. The target participants are 180 designers in Taiwan from two design associations. They are among the top 15 design associations in Google search. According to the findings, both subjective well-being and job satisfaction are highly correlated with creative inspiration. Furthermore, intrinsic satisfaction of a job is highly correlated with inspirational experiences, while having a psychological well-being seems to have a positive correlation with inspiration. The two kinds of correlation mentioned above indicate that creativity and inspiration have a close relationship with our emotional responses, which means that the happier an employee feels, and the better well-being s/he has, the greater is the probability that s/he will generate creative ideas.
The main purpose of this research is to show that positive thinking, from subjective well-being and job satisfaction, will greatly enhance inspirational experience. The target participants are 180 designers in Taiwan from two design associations. They are among the top 15 design associations in Google search. According to the findings, both subjective well-being and job satisfaction are highly correlated with creative inspiration. Furthermore, intrinsic satisfaction of a job is highly correlated with inspirational experiences, while having a psychological well-being seems to have a positive correlation with inspiration. The two kinds of correlation mentioned above indicate that creativity and inspiration have a close relationship with our emotional responses, which means that the happier an employee feels, and the better well-being s/he has, the greater is the probability that s/he will generate creative ideas.
Cite this paper
Yuan, L. (2015). The Happier One Is, the More Creative One Becomes: An Investigation on Inspirational Positive Emotions from Both Subjective Well-Being and Satisfaction at Work. Psychology, 6, 201-209. doi: 10.4236/psych.2015.63019.
Yuan, L. (2015). The Happier One Is, the More Creative One Becomes: An Investigation on Inspirational Positive Emotions from Both Subjective Well-Being and Satisfaction at Work. Psychology, 6, 201-209. doi: 10.4236/psych.2015.63019.
References
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http://dx.doi.org/10.2189/asqu.2005.50.3.367 [3] Avramenko, A. (2014). Inspiration at Work: Is It an Oxymoron? Baltic Journal of Management, 9, 113-129.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/BJM-07-2013-0110 [4] Barrett, F. J. (1998). Creativity and Improvisation in Jazz and Organization: Implications for Organizational Learning. Journal of the Institute of Management Sciences, 9, 605-623. [5] Barsade, S. G. (2002). The Ripple Effect: Emotional Contagion and Its Influence on Group Behavior. Administrative Science Quarterly, 47, 644-675.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/3094912 [6] Barsade, S. G., Brief, A. P., & Spataro, S. E. (2003). The Affective Revolution in Organizational Behavior: The Emergence of a Paradigm. In J. Greenberg (Ed.), Organizational Behavior: The State of the Science (pp. 3-51). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Eribaum. [7] Bowling, N. A., Eschleman, K. J., & Wang, Q. (2010). A Meta-Analytic Examination of the Relationship between Job Satisfaction and Subjective Well-Being. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 83, 915-934.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1348/096317909X478557 [8] Cai, H., Do, E. Y.-L., & Zimring, C. M. (2010). Extend Linkography and Distance Graph in Design Evaluation: An Empirical Study of the Dual Effects of Inspiration Sources in Creative Design. Design Studies, 31, 146-168.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.destud.2009.12.003 [9] DeVellis, R. F. (2003). Scale Development: Theory and Applications (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks: Sage. [10] Ekvall, G. (1996). Organizational Climate for Creativity and Innovation. European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, 5, 105-123.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13594329608414845 [11] Feist, G. J. (1998). A Meta-Analysis of Personality in Scientific and Artistic Creativity. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 2, 290-309.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1207/s15327957pspr0204_5 [12] Fisher, C. D. (2010). Happiness at Work. International Journal of Management Reviews, 12, 384-412.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2370.2009.00270.x [13] George, J. M. (1990). Personality, Affect, and Behavior in Groups. Journal of Applied Psychology, 75, 107-116.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.75.2.107 [14] Hirt, E. R., Melton, R. J., McDonald, H. E., & Harackiewicz, J. M. (1996). Processing Goals, Task Interest, and the Mood-Performance Relationship: A Mediational Analysis. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 71, 245-261.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.71.2.245 [15] Isen, A. M., Daubman, K. A., & Nowicki, G. P. (1987). Positive Affect Facilitates Creative Problem Solving. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 52, 1122-1131.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.52.6.1122 [16] Lin, H. Y., Lu, L., Wu, P. Y., & Wu, W. Y. (2012). Are Happy Workers More Productive? The Dual Influences of Organizational Support and Work Attitudes. Chinese Journal of Psychology, 54, 451-469. [17] Ngara, C. (2010). Creative Vision and Inspiration of Shona Stone Sculptors. Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts, 4, 181-192.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0017475 [18] Nunnally, J. (1978). Psychometric Theory (2nd ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill. [19] Rasulzada, F. (2007). Organizational Creativity and Psychological Well-Being: Contextual Aspects on Organizational Creativity and Psychological Well-Being from an Open Systems Perspective. Doctoral Theses, Lund: Department of Psychology, Lund University. [20] Rissa, K., & Kaustia, T. (2007). Well-Being Creates Productivity: The Druvan-Model. Helsinki: Helsinki Centre for Occupational Safety. [21] Thrash, T. M., Elliot, A. J., Maruskin, L. A., & Cassidy, S. E. (2010). Inspiration and the Promotion of Well-Being: Tests of Causality and Mediation. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 98, 488-506.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0017906 [22] Warr, P. (1999). Well-Being and the Workplace. In D. Kahneman, E. Diener, & N. Schwarz (Eds.), Well-Being: The Foundations of Hedonic Psychology (pp. 392-412). New York: Russell Sage Foundation. [23] Weiss, D. J., Dawis, R. V., England, G. W., & Loiquist, L. H. (1967). Manual for the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire. Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota. [24] Wright, T. A., & Walton, A. P. (2003). Affect, Psychological Well-Being and Creativity: Results of a Field Study. Journal of Business and Management, 9, 21-32. [25] Yen, C. C., & Teng, C. L. (2009). The Relationship among Industrial Designer’s Personal Creativity, Organizational Environment, and Design Performance. Journal of Ming Chuan University, 17, 135-156. [26] Yu, M. N., Hsieh, J. C., Lin, S. Y., Chen, P. L., & Tseng, H. C. (2011). Confirmatory Study of Model of Teachers’ Subjective Well Being. Psychological Testing, 58, 55-85. [27] Yu, M. N., Liu, Y. J., & Li, R. H. (2008). The Practical Usage of Cutoff Score in the Taiwanese Depression Scale. Journal of Educational Research and Development, 4, 231-258.
[1] Amabile, T. M. (1996). Creativity in Context. Boulder, CO: Westview. [2] Amabile, T. M., Barsade, S. G., Mueller, J. S., & Staw, B. M. (2005). Affect and Creativity at Work. Administrative Science Quarterly, 50, 367-403.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2189/asqu.2005.50.3.367 [3] Avramenko, A. (2014). Inspiration at Work: Is It an Oxymoron? Baltic Journal of Management, 9, 113-129.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/BJM-07-2013-0110 [4] Barrett, F. J. (1998). Creativity and Improvisation in Jazz and Organization: Implications for Organizational Learning. Journal of the Institute of Management Sciences, 9, 605-623. [5] Barsade, S. G. (2002). The Ripple Effect: Emotional Contagion and Its Influence on Group Behavior. Administrative Science Quarterly, 47, 644-675.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/3094912 [6] Barsade, S. G., Brief, A. P., & Spataro, S. E. (2003). The Affective Revolution in Organizational Behavior: The Emergence of a Paradigm. In J. Greenberg (Ed.), Organizational Behavior: The State of the Science (pp. 3-51). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Eribaum. [7] Bowling, N. A., Eschleman, K. J., & Wang, Q. (2010). A Meta-Analytic Examination of the Relationship between Job Satisfaction and Subjective Well-Being. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 83, 915-934.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1348/096317909X478557 [8] Cai, H., Do, E. Y.-L., & Zimring, C. M. (2010). Extend Linkography and Distance Graph in Design Evaluation: An Empirical Study of the Dual Effects of Inspiration Sources in Creative Design. Design Studies, 31, 146-168.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.destud.2009.12.003 [9] DeVellis, R. F. (2003). Scale Development: Theory and Applications (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks: Sage. [10] Ekvall, G. (1996). Organizational Climate for Creativity and Innovation. European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, 5, 105-123.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13594329608414845 [11] Feist, G. J. (1998). A Meta-Analysis of Personality in Scientific and Artistic Creativity. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 2, 290-309.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1207/s15327957pspr0204_5 [12] Fisher, C. D. (2010). Happiness at Work. International Journal of Management Reviews, 12, 384-412.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2370.2009.00270.x [13] George, J. M. (1990). Personality, Affect, and Behavior in Groups. Journal of Applied Psychology, 75, 107-116.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.75.2.107 [14] Hirt, E. R., Melton, R. J., McDonald, H. E., & Harackiewicz, J. M. (1996). Processing Goals, Task Interest, and the Mood-Performance Relationship: A Mediational Analysis. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 71, 245-261.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.71.2.245 [15] Isen, A. M., Daubman, K. A., & Nowicki, G. P. (1987). Positive Affect Facilitates Creative Problem Solving. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 52, 1122-1131.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.52.6.1122 [16] Lin, H. Y., Lu, L., Wu, P. Y., & Wu, W. Y. (2012). Are Happy Workers More Productive? The Dual Influences of Organizational Support and Work Attitudes. Chinese Journal of Psychology, 54, 451-469. [17] Ngara, C. (2010). Creative Vision and Inspiration of Shona Stone Sculptors. Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts, 4, 181-192.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0017475 [18] Nunnally, J. (1978). Psychometric Theory (2nd ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill. [19] Rasulzada, F. (2007). Organizational Creativity and Psychological Well-Being: Contextual Aspects on Organizational Creativity and Psychological Well-Being from an Open Systems Perspective. Doctoral Theses, Lund: Department of Psychology, Lund University. [20] Rissa, K., & Kaustia, T. (2007). Well-Being Creates Productivity: The Druvan-Model. Helsinki: Helsinki Centre for Occupational Safety. [21] Thrash, T. M., Elliot, A. J., Maruskin, L. A., & Cassidy, S. E. (2010). Inspiration and the Promotion of Well-Being: Tests of Causality and Mediation. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 98, 488-506.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0017906 [22] Warr, P. (1999). Well-Being and the Workplace. In D. Kahneman, E. Diener, & N. Schwarz (Eds.), Well-Being: The Foundations of Hedonic Psychology (pp. 392-412). New York: Russell Sage Foundation. [23] Weiss, D. J., Dawis, R. V., England, G. W., & Loiquist, L. H. (1967). Manual for the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire. Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota. [24] Wright, T. A., & Walton, A. P. (2003). Affect, Psychological Well-Being and Creativity: Results of a Field Study. Journal of Business and Management, 9, 21-32. [25] Yen, C. C., & Teng, C. L. (2009). The Relationship among Industrial Designer’s Personal Creativity, Organizational Environment, and Design Performance. Journal of Ming Chuan University, 17, 135-156. [26] Yu, M. N., Hsieh, J. C., Lin, S. Y., Chen, P. L., & Tseng, H. C. (2011). Confirmatory Study of Model of Teachers’ Subjective Well Being. Psychological Testing, 58, 55-85. [27] Yu, M. N., Liu, Y. J., & Li, R. H. (2008). The Practical Usage of Cutoff Score in the Taiwanese Depression Scale. Journal of Educational Research and Development, 4, 231-258.