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Why Constraints Make You More Creative, Not Less | Dr. Catrinel Tromp
We're told to think outside the box. But what if the box is your greatest creative asset? Dr. Catrinel Tromp explains the cognitive science behind why constraints drive innovation — and why the most dangerous barriers are the ones you've stopped questioning.
Think outside the box. Blue sky thinking. Start with a blank canvas. It's advice we hear constantly — but what if it's wrong?
Dr. Catrinel Tromp, professor of psychology at Rider University and specialist in the cognitive science of creativity, argues that creativity doesn't flourish despite constraints — it flourishes because of them. Her research, which began at Princeton and was tested in Manhattan's hedge fund world, reveals something counterintuitive: when you narrow the search space, you actually expand the possibilities.
In this conversation, Catrinel shares:
The Green Eggs and Ham Hypothesis — Dr. Seuss wrote a bestseller using just 50 words. Catrinel's own experiments show that everyday people produce more creative results when given random constraints than when given total freedom.
Fixed vs Faux Fixed Constraints — Most of the barriers organisations treat as immovable are nothing of the sort. "That's just how our industry works" is rarely a fact — it's an unchallenged assumption. The best leaders distinguish between genuine boundaries and inherited habits.
The Carryover Effect — People who practise working under constraints don't just perform better in the moment. The creative benefit persists even after the constraints are removed. The skill transfers.
The White Bear Effect — Framing constraints as "don'ts" triggers avoidance and self-monitoring. Framing them as "dos" provides direction and a starting point. Leaders who understand this difference unlock more creative teams.
Constraint Fluency — The best organisations don't wait for a crisis to practise working with constraints. They embed constraint experimentation into daily operations, building the creative muscle before it's needed.
Catrinel also explores why water scarcity produced premium tomatoes and drip irrigation, how the black pearl market was created by reframing a "defect," and why AI prompt engineering is essentially constraint mastery.
About our guest: Dr. Catrinel Tromp earned her PhD from Princeton University and spent years in Manhattan working at a major hedge fund and co-owning a recruiting firm. She is a professor of psychology at Rider University, where she specialises in the cognitive science of creativity and innovation. Her research has been featured by the BBC, the New York Times and leading scientific journals. She is also an abstract oil painter.
Other Arkaro Insights guests referenced in this episode:
- Stephen Wunker — The Playground Paradox
- Vlad Glaveanu — Possibility studies and Slow AI
- Dr. Zorana Ivcevic Pringle — Creativity research
- Scott Anthony — Epic Disruptions and the Bethlehem Steel story
Send your thoughts to Arkaro
Connect with Arkaro:
🔗 Follow us on LinkedIn:
Arkaro Company Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/arkaro
Mark Blackwell: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markrblackwell/
Newsletter - Arkaro Insights: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/arkaro-insights-6924308904973631488/
🌐 Visit our website: www.arkaro.com
📺 Subscribe to our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@arkaro
Audio Podcast: https://arkaroinsights.buzzsprout.com
📧 For business enquiries: [email protected]
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By Mark BlackwellWe're told to think outside the box. But what if the box is your greatest creative asset? Dr. Catrinel Tromp explains the cognitive science behind why constraints drive innovation — and why the most dangerous barriers are the ones you've stopped questioning.
Think outside the box. Blue sky thinking. Start with a blank canvas. It's advice we hear constantly — but what if it's wrong?
Dr. Catrinel Tromp, professor of psychology at Rider University and specialist in the cognitive science of creativity, argues that creativity doesn't flourish despite constraints — it flourishes because of them. Her research, which began at Princeton and was tested in Manhattan's hedge fund world, reveals something counterintuitive: when you narrow the search space, you actually expand the possibilities.
In this conversation, Catrinel shares:
The Green Eggs and Ham Hypothesis — Dr. Seuss wrote a bestseller using just 50 words. Catrinel's own experiments show that everyday people produce more creative results when given random constraints than when given total freedom.
Fixed vs Faux Fixed Constraints — Most of the barriers organisations treat as immovable are nothing of the sort. "That's just how our industry works" is rarely a fact — it's an unchallenged assumption. The best leaders distinguish between genuine boundaries and inherited habits.
The Carryover Effect — People who practise working under constraints don't just perform better in the moment. The creative benefit persists even after the constraints are removed. The skill transfers.
The White Bear Effect — Framing constraints as "don'ts" triggers avoidance and self-monitoring. Framing them as "dos" provides direction and a starting point. Leaders who understand this difference unlock more creative teams.
Constraint Fluency — The best organisations don't wait for a crisis to practise working with constraints. They embed constraint experimentation into daily operations, building the creative muscle before it's needed.
Catrinel also explores why water scarcity produced premium tomatoes and drip irrigation, how the black pearl market was created by reframing a "defect," and why AI prompt engineering is essentially constraint mastery.
About our guest: Dr. Catrinel Tromp earned her PhD from Princeton University and spent years in Manhattan working at a major hedge fund and co-owning a recruiting firm. She is a professor of psychology at Rider University, where she specialises in the cognitive science of creativity and innovation. Her research has been featured by the BBC, the New York Times and leading scientific journals. She is also an abstract oil painter.
Other Arkaro Insights guests referenced in this episode:
- Stephen Wunker — The Playground Paradox
- Vlad Glaveanu — Possibility studies and Slow AI
- Dr. Zorana Ivcevic Pringle — Creativity research
- Scott Anthony — Epic Disruptions and the Bethlehem Steel story
Send your thoughts to Arkaro
Connect with Arkaro:
🔗 Follow us on LinkedIn:
Arkaro Company Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/arkaro
Mark Blackwell: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markrblackwell/
Newsletter - Arkaro Insights: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/arkaro-insights-6924308904973631488/
🌐 Visit our website: www.arkaro.com
📺 Subscribe to our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@arkaro
Audio Podcast: https://arkaroinsights.buzzsprout.com
📧 For business enquiries: [email protected]