Frustration: A Creative Mess

 Picture this. You and your friend have a test on the same day in the same class. You decided to go to Starbucks together and study. You study the same material and study the same amount of time. You take the test and get your grade back. You compare grades with your friend and they got a higher grade then you. How? You studied the same thing for the same amount of time you're furious right? Well according to Tom Haford, in this situation it's because your friend can't repel outside noise like you can. The box that you think out of is hard and sturdy. Your friends box is porous allowing them to think outside the box more. 


In Tim Ford's presentation, "how frustration can make you more creative" he gave a few examples about previous studies that have concluded adding some mess in your life will actually make you think critically. He gave an example with this rock music producer, who in time of blank staring and no rhythm, will break out a deck of cards. On these cards are specific instructions, such as, every musician switches rolls. So the drummer will play guitar, the guitarist will play the piano, the pianist will sing, etc. Causing major turmoil inside the recording studio. But once everyone goes back, it sounds phenomenal. 

 

In another example, Tim discusses a teacher that held an experiment with her classes. In some classes she used slides and pamphlets using easy to read fonts. But with other classes she used crazy, ugly fonts. The students forced to use the crazy fonts did so much better, why? Well according to Tom, it slowed the child down, causing them to think. And not just blow through everything. Same goes for the musicians, they had to slow down while playing the other instrument and has to think critically about the next move. 

 

Another study decided they were going to give out a multiple choice questionair, there was groups of 4 friends or a group of 3 friends and one stranger. The group of friends had a 50% chance of getting it right. While the friend group with one stranger had a 75% chance. As mentioned before, they were forced to slow down due to awkwardness of the situation. What really surprised Tom though, was what the groups said afterwards. The group of all friends thought they had it in the bag. While the group with the stranger felt they did terrible. The awkwardness proved as another part of the frustration factor. 

Writing about this in an economics class you may be wondering how in the world this is economical. Well if you think about, every move or pause you make is economical. Thinking is economical. We learned at the very beginning of the year how economics is more than just money. Thinking critically in the midst of frustration affects a choice you couldv'e made if you weren't frustrated. Economics my dear.