Over the years there have been a number of studies that set out to explore what kind of conditions may support creativity. Off the top of my head, these include conflict, creative hobbies, entitlement, political correctness, silence and stubbornness.

To add to this mix (or confusion), a recent study suggests that sarcasm may be a key driver of creativity.

The paper, authored by researchers at Harvard, Columbia and INSEAD, suggests that the normally frowned upon behavior caused a creativity boost in both the giver and the receiver.

Sarcastically innovative

Participants in the study were exposed to a series of remarks that were either sincere or sarcastic, before then undertaking a creativity based task.

It emerged that those in the sarcastic group significantly outperformed their peers in the sincere group.

The question is, why?

The authors believe it is largely because interpreting sarcasm requires us to engage in the same kind of abstract thinking that often underpins creativity.

The abstract nature of sarcasm

It should be said that using sarcasm was not without risks, with users in the study reporting a higher level of conflict when exposed to sarcasm than those in the sincere and control groups.

It suggests that it is something that should be used with great care rather than indiscriminately as the harm caused may outweigh the benefits obtained.

The importance of trust

The researchers wanted to test if it was possible to get the benefits without the risks involved. To do this they asked participants who were either giving or receiving sarcasm to imagine the other party to be someone they trusted (or didn’t).

This time, those in the trusting group reported all of the benefits of sarcasm, but with no subsequent rise in their sense of conflict.

It transpired that trust was the crucial lubricant to ensure that sarcasm was received as intended and therefore was not detrimental to communication.

This finding chimes with previous studies that suggest that sarcasm may be beneficial to the bonding of a group.

The authors hope that their finding prompts us to think again about the benefits of sarcasm in the workplace, and maybe to see it come in from the cold and become an accepted feature of normal communication.