Creativity and Imagery in Men and Women

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between creativity, imagery, and sex-role orientation in men and women. Instruments measuring creativity, creative production, imagery, and sex-role orientation were administered to 163 students enrolled in introductory psychology. The results showed that creative ability and vividness of imagery were related in women but not in men, whereas creative ability and creative production were related in men but not in women. Creative ability correlated with femininity whereas creative production correlated with masculinity. The author concluded that: (1) men and women show differing patterns of cognitive functioning in the creative process; and (2) men and women differ in the utilization of their creative capacity possibly due to the influence of sex-role stereotypes.