"Creativity Is For The Young": People Underestimate The Creativity of Older Workers

We investigate people’s lay beliefs about worker age and creativity. Do people believe creativity comes with the wisdom of the ages or do they believe creativity is for the young—and how do these beliefs compare to reality? Across two studies, we support the hypothesis that people believe a worker’s creativity peaks at a younger age than it actually does. We found supporting evidence in the creative domains of entrepreneurial behavior and general creative ability. We also test a task framing intervention that emphasizes the importance of skills unrelated to creativity to help reduce bias against older workers when selecting candidates for creative jobs. We contribute to research on how creativity is perceived and on age bias against older workers.