Risky shift and creativity

A review of the literature led to the hypothesis that there could be a relationship between risk-taking and creativity. To test this hypothesis, 10 groups of four undergraduates were administered the Choice Dilemma Questionnaire and a subtest of the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking. This was followed by the standard group process noted to result in a risky shift. After the group process, the Choice Dilemma Questionnaire and an alternate Torrance subtest were readministered. Eleven groups of four undergraduates (the assignments to groups and the assignments to treatments made on a random basis) received the same administrations of the Choice Dilemma Questionnaire and the Torrance tests but had a relaxation period interposed between administrations rather than the group process. The experimental groups increased their risk-taking scores in a statistically significant way, indicating that the risky shift phenomenon had occurred. Concomitantly, the experimental groups' flexibility and originality scores increased significantly, while their elaboration scores decreased at statistically significant levels. No changes were noted on fluency. The control groups showed no significant changes in either the risk-taking scores or any of the four creativity scores. Evidently, increasing the likelihood of taking risks via the risky shift also influences creative responding.