Newswise — ITHACA, N.Y. – Political correctness, loathed by some as censorship awash in leftist philosophy, actually boosts the creativity of mixed-sex work teams, according to new research published in Administrative Science Quarterly.

“Our work challenges the widespread assumption that true creativity requires a kind of anarchy in which people are permitted to speak their minds, whatever the consequence,” said Jack Goncalo associate professor of Organizational Behavior at the Cornell ILR School and lead author of the study.

The research is detailed in the forthcoming article, “Stifling or Liberating? How Political Correctness Influences Creativity in Mixed-Sex Work Groups.” Goncalo’s co-authors are Jennifer Chatman, University of California, Berkeley; Michelle Duguid, Washington University; and Jessica Kennedy, Vanderbilt University.

Contrary to the widely held notion that being politically correct has a generally stifling effect, the results showed that a politically correct norm actually boosts the creative output of mixed-sex groups.

These results highlight a paradoxical consequence: A term that has been used to undermine expectations to censor offensive language as a threat to free speech actually provides a foundation upon which diverse work groups can freely exchange creative ideas.

“Political correctness facilitates idea expression by reducing the uncertainty that people tend to experience while interacting with the opposite sex,” Goncalo said. “The PC norm, by establishing a clear guideline for how to behave appropriately in mixed-sex groups, made both men and women more comfortable sharing their creative ideas.”

For more information about research at the ILR School, visit: http://www.ilr.cornell.edu/research

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