Cognitive underpinnings of malevolent creativity: the role of problem construction

Malevolent creativity (MC), the generation of ideas that are both novel and intentionally harmful, poses significant risks in organizational settings due to its unexpected nature. While research has examined individual differences and situational factors that predict MC, cognitive processes underlying harmful ideation remain underexplored. Problem construction, the early-stage process of defining goals and parameters before generating solutions, is established as critical to creative performance, but its role in MC is unknown. This study examined whether problem construction fluency (the number of unique ways individuals reframe a problem) predicts the generation of harmful ideas, original ideas, and malevolently creative ideas (both harmful and original).

Working adults (N = 155) recruited via Prolific responded to an ambiguous workplace vignette depicting unfair treatment. Participants first engaged in problem construction by generating multiple restatements of the problems, and then generated creative solutions. Solutions were rated for originality and harmfulness using the Consensual Assessment Technique by independent rater teams. Hierarchical regression analyses examined whether problem construction fluency predicted outcomes beyond the effects of control variables (age, impression management, problem-solving experience).

Problem construction fluency positively predicted original ideas (β = 0.41, p < 0.001), harmful ideas (β = 0.29, p < 0.001), and malevolent creativity (β = 0.26, p = 0.001). Impression management suppressed harmful ideation and MC but not originality. Older participants generated more original and malevolently creative ideas, but not more harmful ideas.

Findings suggest that MC may operate through similar cognitive processes as general creative problem solving rather than representing impulsive responses to provocation. Deeper engagement with the problem space during problem construction was associated with a higher likelihood of generating ideas that are original, harmful, or both. These results suggest MC may involve sophisticated cognitive processing that is associated with effortful engagement in early stages of the creative process.