On the relationship between cultural diversity and creativity in education: the moderating role of communal versus divisional mindset

Loris Vezzali*, Malgorzata Goclowska, Richard Crisp, Sofia Stathi

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

We conducted an experimental study with the aim of testing certain conditions under which engaging with cultural diversity increases creativity among schoolchildren. Results obtained from a sample of 149 Italian elementary schoolchildren revealed that engaging with cultural diversity, operationalized by asking Italian children to work with immigrant children on a cooperative task, led to an increase in creativity. Furthermore, we found that this effect was only present when a communal but not a divisional mindset (emphasizing group distinctions) was present. We discuss theoretical and practical implications of findings.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)152–157
Number of pages6
JournalThinking Skills and Creativity
Volume21
Early online date18 Jul 2016
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2016

Bibliographical note

© 2016, Elsevier. Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

Keywords

  • flexible thinking
  • creativity
  • cultural diversity
  • intergroup contact
  • intergroup processes
  • diversity climate
  • diversity in education

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