Stressors and creativity in industrial design practice

Current literature suggests that stress influences creativity, however further research is required concerning this relationship with a focus on education. Current views are clearly divided on whether any negative effects on creativity are more dictated by environmental stressors or the reactions of individuals whilst under stress. For this study, participants completed a questionnaire comprising of a perceived stress scale and thematic questions, to give an indication of whether they were more influenced by environmental stressors or their individual reactions to stress. Two Torrance tests of creativity were conducted to assess creativity over a two-week period as time pressures increased. The results suggested that participants who identified as being more affected by their own negative reactions to stress displayed a lower calibre of creativity when time-pressure increased, whereas the participants who were suggested to be more influenced by their environment remained at a relatively constant perceived level of creativity.