Sharing Without Caring?: How Self-Concealment Influences Idea Creativity at Work
Open AccessWhereas a large body of research examines the antecedents of individual creativity, comparatively little work studies the psychological and interpersonal aspects of the creative process. This gap in the literature is meaningful because interpersonal dynamics in social groups may raise psychological barriers which put pressure on individuals to conform to the influences of their social group. Past research indicates that conformity pressures can affect individuals’ desire to share ideas in groups. I build on earlier work to examine the psychological mechanisms that underlie this effect. I propose that when individuals feel they must conceal part of their identity, they feel less of a sense of belonging, which causes them to express ideas that connect them more to others yet are less likely to be creative. Across three studies I find that self-concealment relates to a desire to feel connected with others—termed belonging motive frustration. An experimental study of LGB employees shows that frustrated belonging mediates the self-concealment—creativity relationship and unexpectedly results in higher expressed creativity. Post hoc analyses reveal a boundary condition to these findings: perception of concealed identity. Results indicate a constructive consequence of self-concealment in the interpersonal processes related to creative idea expression. Findings have implications for research about impression management and creativity, as well as for organizations focused on creating innovative work environments.
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