Does depletion have a bright side? Self-regulation exertion heightens creative engagement

Cony M. Ho, Szu Han Lin, Russell E. Johnson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Resource-based theories posit that exerting self-control to regulate one's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors depletes people's available self-regulatory resources, leaving them depleted and less able to exert self-control in subsequent activities. Although the detrimental effects of depletion are well-established, we challenge this prevailing view by proposing that depletion can have unexpected beneficial effects. Across multiple studies, our current research provides evidence that depletion shifts consumers' attention on benefits of creativity, and in turn influences their subsequent creative engagement. Specifically, we found that depletion increases consumers' persistence in creative activity, and this beneficial effect of depletion on creative engagement is explained by their attention on benefits of creativity. Furthermore, we explore a boundary conditions of this depletion-creative engagement effect by demonstrating that the effect could be attenuated for individuals who are not open to new experiences.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)666-684
Number of pages19
JournalJournal of Consumer Affairs
Volume56
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 1 2022
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • creative engagement
  • creativity
  • depletion
  • ego depletion
  • self-regulation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Sociology and Political Science
  • General Economics, Econometrics and Finance

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