Abstract
Creative engagement may shape not only the ideas people generate but also how they approach risk in subsequent decisions, yet this possibility remains underexplored. Across three studies, we examined this relationship and whether general self-efficacy or affective state accounts for the relationship. Study 1 (N = 228) used a cross-sectional survey and found that everyday creative ideation behavior was positively associated with overall and domain-specific risk-taking propensity. General self-efficacy did not mediate this association. Study 2 (N = 83) experimentally compared risk taking after creative drawing versus standard coloring using a binary lottery choice. Creative drawing increased affective dominance but did not significantly influence subsequent risk taking. Study 3 (N = 94) compared risk taking after creative writing versus standard typing using a six-level investment-choice task. Creative writing increased both risk taking and affective dominance, but the change in dominance did not mediate the effect on risk taking. These findings suggest that creative engagement can influence subsequent financial risk taking, although the effect may depend on the creative task and the sensitivity of the risk measure. Neither general self-efficacy nor affective dominance explained this relationship, highlighting the need to investigate alternative psychological mechanisms.