[In] a classic psychological study on group norms … students assigned [randomly] to … liberal dormitories became less conservative as the group's norms seeped into their consciousness, [and vice versa.] …
Participants [in another study] equated creativity with following the group norm… The unwritten rules of the group … determined what its members considered creative. In effect groups had redefined creativity as conformity. …
When people's individuality rather than their group membership was emphasised, creativity became all about being different from others and being inconsistent with group norms. … people suddenly remembered the dictionary definition of creativity: to transcend the orthodox. …
Coming up with something truly new often means having to steer a path away from the herd, towards new horizons. …
There's one rule you'd be well advised to follow: go it alone.
Read the full article on PsyBlog.
Hat off to Debra for the link!
