How do you manage evaluation? Attentive and affective constituents of creative performance under perceived frustration or success

The interactive relationship between the individual and the social constituents of the creative process emerges strongly during the evaluation of the outcomes of the process. In fact, the contrast with social and cultural norms depicting the originality and effectiveness of an idea brings into the creative process a high level of affective arousal, that can be either beneficial or detrimental to the creative process. Why are some people more able to face this contrast and to resist the frustration arising from repeated negative evaluation is the issue addressed in a recent study, summarized in this chapter. Specifically, the study focused on the analysis of the individual differences defining creative performance during situations of creative frustration and creative success. In particular, the differences in the ability to manage attentive and emotional resources, as well as the differences in trait emotional intelligence (trait EI), a personality trait defining the ability to process, use, and manage affect-laden information of an intrapersonal or interpersonal nature, have been explored during these conditions. Results highlighted the central role of trait EI in the management of attentive and affective resources under frustration and success conditions, strongly influencing people’s creative performance. In particular, individual differences in the management of the affective arousal deriving from the contrast with evaluations coming from the external environment emerged to be essential in distinguishing between a successful and an inconclusive creative process.