Creative Capacity and Semantic Network Structure in Early Adolescence: Exploring Trauma Exposure as a Moderator
Abstract
Previous research has demonstrated a significant predictive relationship between creative capacity and the structure of a semantic network: the more creative, the broader the network and vice versa. However, no research to date has verified this relationship within a sample set of early adolescents. This study attempted to understand the nature of creative influence on associational hierarchies in early adolescence. Further, a third, potentially moderating variable, of trauma exposure, was included in the model due to the high amounts of trauma exposure experienced by children and youth in today’s society (Finkelhor et al., 2013, 2015). Participants provided demographic information, completed a task of divergent thinking, responded to a series of subject-related prompts, and reported on rates of exposure to traumatic experiences. Regression analyses revealed no significant predictive relationship between creative capacity and semantic networks in either direction. However, a significant positive predictive relationship was found between exposure to non-interpersonal traumatic events and the structure of a semantic network. Additional significant correlational relationships between trauma type and subject prompt suggest that further research is warranted in determining how social topics may result in restrictive access to semantic diversity following interpersonal trauma exposure.
Subject Area
Developmental psychology
Recommended Citation
Frydman, Jason Scott, "Creative Capacity and Semantic Network Structure in Early Adolescence: Exploring Trauma Exposure as a Moderator" (2018). ETD Collection for Fordham University. AAI10816868.
https://research.library.fordham.edu/dissertations/AAI10816868
