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Poster Session B: Wednesday, August 13, 1:00 – 4:00 pm, de Brug & E‑Hall

A ‘sweet spot’ for creative ideation: Non-linear associations between semantic distance and creativity

William Orwig¹, Simone A. Luchini², Roger Beaty², Daniel L. Schacter; ¹Harvard University, ²Pennsylvania State University

Presenter: William Orwig

Creativity researchers have sought to standardize idea assessment via computational measures of semantic distance: the degree of conceptual dissimilarity between words. The relationship between semantic distance and creativity has traditionally been described using linear models, with the embedded assumption that as semantic distance increases, so does the creative quality of ideas. However, informal observations would suggest that distant associations may sometimes become too incoherent or nonsensical to be considered creative. Using generalized additive models (GAMs), we explored the non-linear nature of this relationship across three divergent thinking tasks: alternate uses, question asking, and metaphor generation. Our results revealed a consistent pattern: human ratings of creativity increased with semantic distance up to a certain threshold (between 0.9 – 1), after which point, additional semantic distance does not translate into more subjectively creative ideas. These findings provide a more nuanced understanding of the interplay between semantic distance and creativity, suggesting a potential “sweet spot” for semantic distance in creative ideation.

Topic Area: Language & Communication

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