Sakhavat Mammadov, associate professor in the Mary Frances Early College of Education’s educational psychology department, spoke with Futurity about how good moods boost creativity.
Researchers found that positive emotions can translate to increased engagement in creative activities like drawing, writing and playing music.
“When people are more creative, they tend to feel better. But at the same time, when they feel positive emotions, they tend to be more creative,” Mammadov said. “Positivity was a robust predictor of not only today’s creativity but tomorrow’s creativity as well.”
In analyzing weeks of daily diaries from over 100 college students, the researchers pinpointed specific characteristics that helped promote creativity.
Students who reported feeling more content also reported an inclination to take up anything creative, from writing a poem to trying to cook a new recipe.
“Everyday creativity looks like any activity that is new and useful without recognition needed from society,” Mammadov said. “You may not be an expert painter. But if you are engaging with painting and trying to learn new skills, that’s creative.”