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The More Fertile, the More Creative: Changes in Women’s Creative Potential across the Ovulatory Cycle

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  • Katarzyna Galasinska

    (Institute of Psychology, SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities, 03-815 Warsaw, Poland
    Center for Research on Biological Basis of Social Behavior, SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities, 03-815 Warsaw, Poland)

  • Aleksandra Szymkow

    (Institute of Psychology, SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities, 03-815 Warsaw, Poland
    Center for Research on Biological Basis of Social Behavior, SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities, 03-815 Warsaw, Poland)

Abstract

Creative thinking is a defining human feature. It provides novel solutions and as such undoubtedly has contributed to our survival. However, according to signaling theory, creativity could also have evolved through sexual selection as a potential fitness indicator. In our study, we tested one implication of this theory. Specifically, we hypothesized that if creativity can serve as a signal of women’s fitness, then we should observe an increase in creative thinking in the fertile phase of the ovulatory cycle compared to other non-fertile phases. In our study ( N = 751), we tested creative potential throughout the ovulatory cycle. We found a positive correlation between the probability of conception and both creative originality and flexibility. Importantly, we also tested the mediating role of arousal in the relationship between the probability of conception and creative thinking. The results of our study are discussed in terms of signaling theory, through which women advertise their fitness with their creativity.

Suggested Citation

  • Katarzyna Galasinska & Aleksandra Szymkow, 2021. "The More Fertile, the More Creative: Changes in Women’s Creative Potential across the Ovulatory Cycle," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-15, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:10:p:5390-:d:557140
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jin-Ying Zhuang & Jia-Xi Wang, 2014. "Women Ornament Themselves for Intrasexual Competition near Ovulation, but for Intersexual Attraction in Luteal Phase," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(9), pages 1-10, September.
    2. Serena Bianchi & Stefania Annarita Nottola & Diana Torge & Maria Grazia Palmerini & Stefano Necozione & Guido Macchiarelli, 2020. "Association between Female Reproductive Health and Mancozeb: Systematic Review of Experimental Models," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-15, April.
    3. Neeltje J. Boogert & Tim W. Fawcett & Louis Lefebvre, 2011. "Mate choice for cognitive traits: a review of the evidence in nonhuman vertebrates," Behavioral Ecology, International Society for Behavioral Ecology, vol. 22(3), pages 447-459.
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