The Green Eggs and Ham hypothesis: How constraints facilitate creativity.

Abstract

Two experiments tested the hypothesis that constraints imposed on a common writing task yield more creative outputs. In the 1st study, participants were asked to include a given noun in a 2-line rhyme for a special occasion. In the 2nd study, they generated their own nouns, which they then had to include in their rhymes. Both studies show a main effect of constraints on creativity and an interaction with order of presentation, which suggests a carryover effect: Mere practice with constraints can stimulate creativity. The Green Eggs and Ham model is put forth to explain the current findings and why Dr. Seuss’s best-seller, written using only 50 words, was such a creative and commercial success.

Designing Spaces for Creativity and Divergent Thinking: Pre-Service Teachers Creating Stop Motion Animation on Tablets

“…A benefit of creativity is that it can take things out of the abstract and make it more relative to real life (Herring & Hunter-Doniger, 2018). However, according to Haught-Tromp (2017), people tend to have difficulty starting work or initiating creative thought when there is an absence of any instructions, materials, directions, or examples. A foundational understanding must be present, but engineering constraints can lead to creativity.…”

Constraining or Constructive? The Effects of Examples on Idea Novelty

“…For example, a prior example may increase novelty by serving as an analogical source for new ideas (Smith & Linsey, 2011;Smith & Ward, 2012). Examples may also help to focus a search space that is otherwise very broad (Haught-Tromp, 2016;Sio et al, 2015). Additionally, novel ideas may emerge from the combination of concepts contained in prior examples with other previously known concepts (Estes & Ward, 2002).…”

Or I May Live...

“…The most common perceived constraints come in forms like the inner critic, deficit perceptions, and fixed mindset, and inhibit the creative process. These perspectives are based in fear, shame, and cultural conditioning and can create significant barriers for individuals to reach their personal creative expression potential In contrast to the hurdle-effect of perceived constraints, and despite the fact that many associate creative expression with the fiery throws of uninhibited abandon, studies have shown that a balanced degree of actual constraints applied to a creative task can result in increased creative problem-solving and more prolific outcomes (Medeiros, 2014;Haught-Tromp, 2017). This is because a certain amount of structure or a particular prompt can help challenge and stimulate creative abilities to apply to the specific challenge at hand.…”

“…One example of this phenomenon occurred in a study where participants were provided greeting card poetry prompts. The findings demonstrated that participants who were given additional constraints (in the form of required words to include in their poems) wrote more original and intriguing poems than those who were left with utter freedom in their composition (Haught-Tromp, 2017).…”

“…Also in line with the literature review, this study found the definition of creativity to be varied and complex (Klein, 1982;Lloyd-Jones, 1970;Lena, 2010). Through their preference of using the graphic organizers provided over blank paper, participants also suggested that certain constraints were conducive to the metaphoric process of making meaning of their lives through dialogical processing and semi-structured design activities (Medeiros, 2014;Haught-Tromp, 2017;Mott-Smith, 2008;Lightfoot, 2008;Saltofte, 2011). The findings confirmed language and design processing as fertile avenues for creating meaning in life both through their direct success as the methods used in the interviews, as well as through participants frequent citations of both conversation and creative expression as means through which they create meaning regularly in their lives (Marsen, 2008;Adams, 2002;Nelson, 1989, Mirtz, 1993Dyson, 1995;Miles 1985;Castano, 2011;Kazmierczak, 2003).…”