Do Motor Actions Influence Creative Cognition? A Replication Of Friedman And Förster (2002)

From artistic endeavors to evolutionary survival skills, creativity influences various aspects of everyday life. Previous research has shown that numerous factors influence an individual’s level of creativity, from mood to nonaffective motor movements. Based on existing literature suggesting certain motor actions can influence mental states, such as approach or avoidance mindsets, Friedman and Förster (2002) examined the effects of arm movements (arm flexion and extension) on creativity. Their study has provided the basis for much research in recent years, thus making it imperative to better understand the initial results found by Friedman and Förster. We replicated their Experiment 2 by similarly manipulating arm movements and examining participants’ creativity. In contrast to the findings of Friedman and Förster’s original study, overall, arm movements did not influence creativity in our study. Though some potential limiting factors could be addressed in follow-up research, it is significant to note that the relationship between motor actions and creativity may not be as well-defined as previously thought.