Although the literature implies that rebelliousness can be a precursor of creative behaviour, this assumption has rarely been tested empirically. In the present study, we hypothesized that trait‐level rebelliousness may have an inverted U‐shaped relationship with creativity. Additionally, we expected that the effect is pronounced under two conditions, namely when individuals strive for success (i.e., high promotion focus) or when they are not failure‐avoidant (i.e., low prevention focus). We conducted a three‐wave weekly survey study among a heterogeneous sample of 156 employees. The results suggested that the expected non‐linear relation rebelliousness–creativity occurred under high promotion focus, but we did not find a direct link between rebelliousness and creativity. Furthermore, prevention focus did not moderate the non‐linear link. Additional analyses revealed that rebelliousness has a linear link with creativity when promotion focus is high and, at the same time, prevention focus is low. Our study reveals that rebelliousness in itself is not sufficient to unlock creativity. Instead, we uncover promotion focus as the condition that amplifies the link between moderate rebelliousness and creativity. Additionally, when employees simultaneously focus on promotion and refrain from prevention, the more rebellious they are, the more creativity they report.

中文翻译：

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叛逆的原因：员工的叛逆何时与创造力有关？

尽管文献暗示叛逆可能是创造行为的先驱，但这种假设很少经过经验检验。在本研究中，我们假设特质水平的叛逆性可能与创造力呈倒U型关系。此外，我们希望在两种情况下效果显着，即当个人为成功而奋斗时（即高度重视提升）或当他们不回避失败时（即低预防者为主）。我们对156名员工的不同样本进行了每周三波的调查研究。结果表明，预期的非线性关系叛逆性-创造力是在高度重视推广的情况下发生的，但我们并未发现叛逆性与创造力之间存在直接联系。此外，预防重点并没有缓和非线性联系。进一步的分析表明，当提升重点高而预防重点低时，叛逆与创造力成线性关系。我们的研究表明，叛逆本身不足以释放创造力。相反，我们发现促销重点是扩大适度叛逆与创造力之间联系的条件。此外，当员工同时专注于晋升和避免预防时，他们越反叛，他们报告的创造力就越多。我们发现促销重点是扩大适度叛逆与创造力之间联系的条件。此外，当员工同时专注于晋升和避免预防时，他们越反叛，他们报告的创造力就越多。我们发现促销重点是扩大适度叛逆与创造力之间联系的条件。此外，当员工同时专注于晋升和避免预防时，他们越反叛，他们报告的创造力就越多。