The effect of shame in creativity: the serial mediation model of self-forgiveness and meaning in life

摘要: Background and Objective: Shame, as a negative emotion, has unclear potential impacts on creativity and its underlying psychological mechanisms. Based on the cognitive adjustment model theory and the emotion regulation process model, this study explores the effect of shame on creativity and examines the serial mediation roles of self-forgiveness and sense of life meaning in this relationship.
Methods: Using simple random sampling, this study randomly selected 419 participants from the population and conducted data collection and analysis.
Results: (1) Shame was positively correlated with creativity (r= 0.14, p <0.01); (2) Self-forgiveness mediated the effect of shame on creativity; (3) Shame influenced creativity through the serial mediation of self-forgiveness and meaning in life.
Conclusion: This study reveals the positive impact of shame on creativity and its underlying psychological mechanisms, particularly the serial mediation roles of self-forgiveness and meaning in life. These findings provide referential intervention strategies for enhancing individual creativity.