Generating, evaluating, endorsing, and implementing malevolent creativity: a malevolent idea journey

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Creativity Studies
• Social Sciences

Background:

• Malevolent creativity research has primarily focused on the generation of harmful ideas.
• Existing studies often overlook the stages beyond idea generation, such as evaluation and implementation.
• Harmful creative ideas do not automatically lead to societal damage; their value, endorsement, and execution are critical.

Purpose of the Study:

• To summarize existing research on malevolent idea generation.
• To propose novel perspectives on malevolent creativity, extending beyond idea generation to evaluation and implementation.
• To bridge the gap between generating harmful ideas and their real-life execution (malevolent innovation).

Main Methods:

• Review and synthesis of previous malevolent creativity research.
• Theoretical argumentation for expanding research to later stages of the creative process.
• Inclusion of unpublished research findings to support theoretical claims.

Main Results:

• Malevolent idea generation is linked to divergent thinking, personality, emotion, and environmental factors.
• Current research predominantly examines idea generation, neglecting crucial subsequent stages.
• The transition from generating harmful ideas to their implementation requires further investigation.

Conclusions:

• Future malevolent creativity research should encompass idea evaluation, forecasting, endorsement, selection, and implementation.
• Understanding the full journey of malevolent ideas is essential for assessing and mitigating societal harm.
• This work provides a framework for exploring 'malevolent innovation' and its real-world impact.