Considering creativity as a journey beyond idea generation, scholars have theorized that different ties are beneficial in different phases. As individuals usually possess different types of ties, selecting the optimal ties in each phase and changing ties as needed are central activities for creative success. We identify the types of ties (weak or strong) that are helpful in idea generation and idea elaboration, and given this understanding, whether individuals activate ties in each phase accordingly. In an experimental study of individuals conversing with their ties, we provide evidence of the causal effects of weak and strong ties on idea generation and idea elaboration. We also find that individuals do not always activate ties optimally and identify network size and risk as barriers. Our results in a series of studies reveal that individuals with large networks, despite providing more opportunity to activate both strong and weak ties, activate fewer weak ties and are less likely to switch ties across phases than individuals with smaller networks, particularly when creativity is perceived as a high-risk endeavor. Finally, we find that activating the wrong ties leads to either dropping creative ideas or pursuing uncreative ones.

中文翻译：

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“你要给谁打电话？” 创意产生和阐述中的网络激活

将创造力视为超越创意产生的旅程，学者们认为不同的联系在不同的阶段是有益的。由于个人通常拥有不同类型的关系，因此在每个阶段选择最佳关系并根据需要改变关系是创造性成功的核心活动。我们确定有助于创意产生和创意阐述的联系类型（弱或强），并根据这种理解，个人是否相应地激活每个阶段的联系。在一项针对个人与其关系交谈的实验研究中，我们提供了弱关系和强关系对创意产生和创意阐述的因果影响的证据。我们还发现，个人并不总是以最佳方式激活联系，并将网络规模和风险视为障碍。我们在一系列研究中的结果表明，与网络较小的人相比，拥有大网络的人尽管提供更多机会激活强关系和弱关系，但激活的弱关系更少，跨阶段转换关系的可能性更小，尤其是在感知创造力时作为一项高风险的努力。最后，我们发现激活错误的纽带会导致放弃创意或追求无创意的想法。