The relationship between mind-wandering or awareness and creativity

Abstract

Although mind-wandering and awareness are contrary concepts, both are positively correlated with creative problem solving. To understand this contradiction, we examined how mind-wandering and awareness are related to the three aspects of creativity: fluency, flexibility, and originality. We used psychological scales to measure mind-wandering and awareness, and the Unusual Uses Test to measure the three aspects of creativity. Data from 532 participants (300 male, 228 female, and 4 unknown; Mage=19.67, SD=1.44 years) were analyzed. The results of a multiple regression analysis showed an inverted U-shaped relationship between mind-wandering and uniqueness scores of originality. An ANOVA analysis showed that participants in the medium mind-wandering group scored higher than those in the low mind-wandering group. In contrast, mind-wandering and evaluative scores of originality showed a U-shaped relationship, and participants in the medium mind-wandering group scored lower than those in the low mind-wandering group.