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Little Psychological Nudges To Stir Creativity

Creativity often isn’t a light switch we can immediately turn on and off as we please, despite how welcoming and convenient that sounds. Its processes and workings mostly found in the unconscious mind make it more difficult for scientists to decipher what exactly makes us tick in that department the way we do. However, researchers have observed several potential psychological connections that may assist in naturally bringing out our inner visions.


One such connection is the “cathedral effect”; your perception of how high the ceiling is of the room you’re in can influence your thinking and problem-solving abilities. Low ceilings promote a feeling of confinement along with rational and detail-oriented thought. High ceilings may give one a feeling of freedom and correspond to ‘heightened’ (ha, get it) abstract thinking and creativity. Some public libraries outside of Hunter can have high ceilings, especially on upper floors. You can also try doing a little brainstorming in the balcony of the Hunter assembly hall in the North Building (as long as you’re not disturbing any ongoing classes there, of course).


Additionally, having a noticeable amount of green in your surrounding environment can stimulate creativity. Green symbolizes feelings of growth and hope. A study from the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin conducted four experiments in which participants were briefly shown the color green and then completed several assessments and tasks; this was also done with other colors like red, blue, and gray. Results showed participants gave more creative answers after seeing green.

Lastly, a certain amount of sensory deprivation can be felt in a dark room. Perceiving less prominent stimulation from your surroundings can lower blood pressure and induce feelings of relaxation and tranquility, a good cooldown recipe for a creative spark shortly after.


While not complete overnight fixes, setting these little changes into a routine that we follow habitually can set us in an environment more attuned to our creative senses, and possibly reduce stress on the way, too — painting, writing, composing music, crocheting - our human minds know no bounds for imagination.



Source:


Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin Study:

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