In an era where creativity has become not only a prized asset but also a critical driver of innovation and competitive advantage, understanding the factors that nurture or stifle this ability is paramount. A groundbreaking study by Liu, Zhao, and Pang, published in BMC Psychology in 2025, delves deeply into the complex dynamics of negative feedback within hierarchical structures and its nuanced impact on creative output. This research brings to light a sophisticated interplay of emotional, cognitive, and strategic processes that govern how individuals respond to criticism in environments demanding originality.
At the heart of this inquiry is the recognition that feedback mechanisms are ubiquitous in professional and educational settings alike. Negative feedback, in particular, often carries a heavy emotional toll, posing a paradox: while it aims to rectify and improve performance, it can simultaneously dampen the very creative spirit employers and educators seek to cultivate. Liu and colleagues’ work extends beyond traditional interpretations by discerning that the hierarchical nature of feedback—essentially who delivers the criticism and how it cascades through organizational ranks—profoundly shapes its psychological effects and subsequent influence on creativity.
The research methodology employed by the authors is meticulous, integrating quantitative assessments of creativity with psychological measures of affective states and strategy modification behaviors. Participants subjected to various levels of negative feedback hierarchy exhibited differing responses, suggesting that both the source and perceived credibility of criticism modulate emotional impacts. Crucially, the study introduces a mediation model where positive affect, an emotional state typically associated with motivation and openness, serves as a pivotal conduit between receiving hierarchical negative feedback and creative performance enhancements or decrements.
Beyond emotional processing, the study explores cognitive adaptation through strategy modification. This refers to the adjustments individuals make in their creative approaches following critical input. The findings suggest that individuals who manage to reinterpret negative hierarchical feedback positively are more likely to engage in constructive problem-solving strategies, thus achieving heightened creativity. Conversely, absence of such positive reframing often results in rigid cognitive patterns and creative stagnation.
The temporal sequencing and context of feedback delivery also emerge as significant. Hierarchical negative feedback, when delivered within a supportive climate that encourages risk-taking and learning from errors, lessens detrimental emotional responses. This underscores the crucial role of organizational culture in shaping feedback’s impact, where encouraging leaders can transform negative hierarchical critiques into catalysts for creative breakthroughs.
This study’s implications extend into the nuances of affect regulation. Positive affect, often overlooked in feedback research, is shown to mediate and potentially neutralize the adverse consequences typically attributed to negative feedback. This affective buffering may be harnessed by strategic leaders to calibrate feedback systems that protect creative ideation from emotional fallout, preserving the individual’s intrinsic motivation and resilience in the face of criticism.
The authors challenge the simplistic binary of ‘negative equals bad’ by illustrating a more sophisticated narrative. Negative feedback delivered through hierarchical channels is not inherently damaging. Instead, its influence on creativity is contingent on how it modulates emotional experiences and cognitive strategies. This reconceptualization invites organizations to rethink feedback frameworks, promoting emotional intelligence and adaptive strategic thinking as core competencies in managerial training.
Furthermore, this research adds depth to the cognitive appraisal theories in psychology by integrating emotion-cognition interplay within creative contexts. It reveals that individuals’ appraisal of hierarchical criticism determines whether the feedback will lead to adaptive behavior or psychological withdrawal. This nuanced understanding opens avenues for targeted interventions aimed at fostering positive reinterpretation and strategic flexibility to maintain creative vitality.
The study also advances the conversation around leadership styles and their downstream effects on innovation. Leaders who are adept at delivering critical feedback without provoking adverse affective reactions can enhance their team’s creative output. Training leaders in communication skills that elevate positive affect could thus be a transformative initiative in organizations seeking sustainable innovative cultures.
Importantly, Liu and colleagues’ findings are relevant to industries where creativity must flourish under high pressure and frequent evaluation, such as technology, design, education, and research. By addressing hierarchical negative feedback’s role in shaping emotional and cognitive responses, businesses can tailor feedback protocols to balance performance correction with creative encouragement.
From a neuropsychological perspective, the mediating role of positive affect hints at underlying brain mechanisms involving reward circuits and emotional regulation networks, which influence creative cognition. Future research building on this work may explore these neurobiological correlates, offering even deeper insights into how hierarchical feedback affects innovation pathways at the neurological level.
This research also invites educational institutions to reconsider assessment and feedback methods, particularly in fostering creative skills. Negative feedback often marks student evaluations, and this study indicates that the method of delivery and emotional framing can either hinder or stimulate creative growth, thereby informing pedagogical strategies that nurture talent rather than suppress originality.
The novelty of Liu et al.’s contribution lies in its interdisciplinary approach, combining organizational psychology, emotional studies, and cognitive strategy analysis to present a comprehensive perspective on creativity facilitation within hierarchical structures. Their mediation model serves as a valuable framework for subsequent empirical and applied research aiming to optimize feedback systems for maximal creative engagement.
In sum, this insightful investigation not only elucidates the dual-edged nature of hierarchical negative feedback but also elevates the discourse on emotional and strategic mediators critical to creative success. Organizations, leaders, and educators stand to benefit immensely by adopting feedback approaches that harness positive affect and encourage adaptive strategy modification, potentially ushering in a new era of innovation fueled by refined psychological insight.
Subject of Research: The impact of hierarchical negative feedback on creativity, focusing on the mediating roles of positive affect and strategy modification.
Article Title: The effect of negative feedback hierarchy on creativity: the mediating role of positive affect and strategy modification.
Article References:
Liu, M., Zhao, J. & Pang, W. The effect of negative feedback hierarchy on creativity: the mediating role of positive affect and strategy modification. BMC Psychol 13, 1372 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-03642-8
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