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The effect of mood induction and language of testing on bilingual creativity

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 August 2015

ANATOLIY V. KHARKHURIN  and
JEANETTE ALTARRIBA
ANATOLIY V. KHARKHURIN*
Affiliation:
American University of Sharjah
JEANETTE ALTARRIBA
Affiliation:
University at Albany, State University of New York
*
Address for correspondence: Anatoliy V. Kharkhurin, American University of Sharjah, P.O. Box 26666 Sharjah, United Arab Emirates[email protected]
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Abstract

This study explores the hypothesis that language of testing and mood states can influence creativity in bilinguals. Arabic–English bilingual speakers were induced into positive or negative mood states using film clips and recall-of-events procedures. Then, participants’ creativity was assessed with the Abbreviated Torrance Test for Adults. Participants were tested in either English or Arabic. A Picture Naming Test revealed English as participants’ stronger language and Arabic as their weaker language. Testing in English was found to enhance verbal fluency and originality, as compared to testing in Arabic. Most importantly, an interactive effect of induction (positive, negative) and language of testing (English, Arabic) on creativity emerged. The results revealed two conditions beneficial for participants’ nonverbal originality: a positive mood state when tested in English and a negative mood state when tested in Arabic. These results are discussed in light of the interactive effect of mood induction and linguistic context (stronger vs. weaker) on an individual's creativity.

Keywords

bilingualismcreativitymoodemotionslanguage dominance
Type
Research Article
Information
Bilingualism: Language and Cognition , Volume 19 , Issue 5 , November 2016 , pp. 1079 - 1094
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Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2015 

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