Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 7, 2026
11:54
Real-Time Proxy-Control of Re-Parameterized Peripheral Signals using a Close-Loop Interface
Published on: May 8, 2021
Autonomy and control in dyads: effects on interaction quality and joint creative performance.
Netta Weinstein1, Holley S Hodgins, Richard M Ryan
1Department of Psychology, University of Essex, Colchester, UK. netta@essex.ac.uk
Personality & Social Psychology Bulletin
|October 23, 2010
Summary
Priming for autonomy in dyads enhances creative task performance by fostering better interaction quality, positive mood, and joint engagement. These factors collectively improve collaborative outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Social Psychology
- Creativity Studies
Background:
- Understanding factors influencing collaborative creativity is crucial for optimizing group performance.
- Autonomy and control orientations can significantly impact interpersonal dynamics and task engagement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how priming autonomy versus control orientations affects interaction quality and joint creative performance in dyads.
- To explore the mediating roles of interpersonal closeness, mood, and task engagement in the relationship between autonomy priming and creative output.
Main Methods:
- Two studies were conducted involving unacquainted dyads primed with either autonomy or control orientations.
- Creative performance was assessed using verbal (Remote Associates Task) and nonverbal (charades) tasks.
- Interaction quality was measured through behavioral coding of videotaped sessions, focusing on closeness, emotional attunement, and task engagement.
Main Results:
- Dyads primed for autonomy reported feeling closer and demonstrated greater emotional and cognitive attunement.
- Autonomy-primed dyads exhibited enhanced interpersonal behaviors, including empathy and encouragement.
- Improved interpersonal quality, mood, and joint engagement mediated the positive effect of autonomy priming on creative task performance.
Conclusions:
- Priming an autonomy orientation positively influences dyadic interactions and enhances collaborative creative performance.
- Interpersonal dynamics, emotional states, and joint engagement are key mechanisms through which autonomy fosters creativity.
- Findings highlight the importance of fostering autonomy in collaborative settings to boost creativity and performance.
Related Concept Videos
02:12Relationship Formation
What do you think is the single most influential factor in determining with whom you become friends and whom you form romantic relationships? You might be surprised to learn that the answer is simple: the people with whom you have the most contact. This most important factor is proximity. You are more likely to be friends with people you have regular contact with. For example, there are decades of research that shows that you are more likely to become friends with people who live in your dorm,...
01:27Relationship Growth
Interpersonal relationships progress through stages, beginning with awareness and moving toward mutuality, where emotional connections deepen. While many relationships remain at moderate levels of mutuality, deeper connections form through self-disclosure, trust, and interdependence.Self-DisclosureSelf-disclosure involves revealing personal information, starting with surface-level details and gradually progressing to more intimate content. As trust grows, individuals feel more comfortable...
02:57The Sense of Self: Reflected Self-Appraisal and Social Comparison
According to Charles Cooley, we base our image on what we think other people see (Cooley 1902). We imagine how we must appear to others, then react to this speculation. We don certain clothes, prepare our hair in a particular manner, wear makeup, use cologne, and the like—all with the notion that our presentation of ourselves is going to affect how others perceive us. We expect a certain reaction, and, if lucky, we get the one we desire and feel good about it. But more than that, Cooley...
01:25Impact of Individuals on a Group
In social psychology, the interplay between individuals and groups is a central concern, particularly regarding how individual actions and characteristics influence group processes and outcomes. While much research emphasizes the group's power in shaping individual behavior, it is equally significant to understand how individuals contribute to the functioning, development, and success of groups.Individual Roles in Group Productivity and Decision-MakingIndividuals are not passive participants in...
01:28Factors Influencing Attraction IV: Reciprocity
Reciprocity in attraction is fundamental to social and romantic relationships, shaping how individuals form and maintain connections. The psychological principle underlying this phenomenon is that people tend to like those who express liking toward them. Balance theory supports this tendency, suggesting that mutual attraction fosters psychological harmony, whereas one-sided affection leads to discomfort and cognitive dissonance.The Psychological Mechanisms Behind ReciprocityWhen individuals...
01:29Impression Management Techniques I: Managing Appearances
Appearance is a multidimensional aspect of self-presentation that encompasses observable attributes such as clothing, grooming, speech, and nonverbal behavior. These elements are often strategically managed to align with socially constructed expectations in different settings. For instance, individuals tailor their appearance during job interviews, social gatherings, or athletic events to meet the perceived norms of those environments.Contextual Adaptation and Social SignalsThe research...