Dark Creativity

Creativity

Rage Bait: An Angering, Yet Original Engagement Hack

Hansika Kapoor Ph.D. on August 5, 2026

Rage baiting uses original content to instigate user engagement in darkly creative ways.

Rage baiting uses original content to instigate user engagement in darkly creative ways.

Creativity

Counterproductive Work Behavior and Dark Creativity

Hansika Kapoor Ph.D. on February 26, 2026

Creativity can be used to protect oneself from unrealistic demands in high-pressure organizations.

Creativity can be used to protect oneself from unrealistic demands in high-pressure organizations.

Personality

Curated Confusion on Your Timeline

Hansika Kapoor Ph.D. on September 22, 2025

Digital footprints can be misused to create fake news, tailored to user personalities, increasing the chances of believability.

Digital footprints can be misused to create fake news, tailored to user personalities, increasing the chances of believability.

Magical Thinking

When Superstitious Beliefs Cause Original Harm

Hansika Kapoor Ph.D. on August 8, 2025

Although superstitions may seem harmless, they can have painful consequences.

Although superstitions may seem harmless, they can have painful consequences.

Law and Crime

The Ingenious Harm Caused by “Digital Arrests” in India

Hansika Kapoor Ph.D. on April 1, 2025

Digital arrest—a made-up term—is tricking people into giving money or sharing personal data with bad actors.

Digital arrest—a made-up term—is tricking people into giving money or sharing personal data with bad actors.

Leadership

How Does Dark Leadership Affect Creativity?

Hansika Kapoor Ph.D. on January 19, 2025

Dark leadership can have harmful effects on employee creativity, but can dark leadership be creative itself?

Dark leadership can have harmful effects on employee creativity, but can dark leadership be creative itself?

Relationships

Rumors Are Darkly Creative Narratives

Hansika Kapoor Ph.D. on November 6, 2024

Gossip, driven by personality traits and psychological motives, can influence power dynamics, relationships, and reputations in positive and harmful ways.

Gossip, driven by personality traits and psychological motives, can influence power dynamics, relationships, and reputations in positive and harmful ways.

Law and Crime

Is "Affluenza" Just a Creative Way to Justify Being Mean?

Hansika Kapoor Ph.D. on August 12, 2024

A portmanteau of "affluence" and "influenza," affluenza can supposedly prevent people from understanding how their actions harm others. Is it real—or just a darkly creative excuse?

A portmanteau of "affluence" and "influenza," affluenza can supposedly prevent people from understanding how their actions harm others. Is it real—or just a darkly creative excuse?

Law and Crime

Privacy Hacks Are Becoming Deviously Creative

Hansika Kapoor Ph.D. on February 5, 2024

Personal data in an ever-evolving digital landscape can become an easy target for creative mischief.

Personal data in an ever-evolving digital landscape can become an easy target for creative mischief.

Deception

Behind the Startup Spark

Hansika Kapoor Ph.D. on November 3, 2023

What lurks behind the glittering façade of the startup world? Read how the pursuit of success can lead one to groundbreaking innovations or shadowy deceptions.

What lurks behind the glittering façade of the startup world? Read how the pursuit of success can lead one to groundbreaking innovations or shadowy deceptions.

Artificial Intelligence

Can ChatGPT Be Darkly Creative?

Hansika Kapoor Ph.D. on March 2, 2023

By using the right prompts, ChatGPT can be made to override its content policies. In the hands of bad actors, this spells danger.

By using the right prompts, ChatGPT can be made to override its content policies. In the hands of bad actors, this spells danger.

Creativity

Chicanery in 'Better Call Saul'

Hansika Kapoor Ph.D. on August 5, 2022

The swindles and scams in ‘Better Call Saul’ are prime examples of dark creativity.

The swindles and scams in ‘Better Call Saul’ are prime examples of dark creativity.

Creativity

How Nudges Can Be Sinister

Hansika Kapoor Ph.D. on August 27, 2021

Behavioral scientists aim to nudge for good; but when malevolent actors are on the scene, creative sludges can emerge too.

Behavioral scientists aim to nudge for good; but when malevolent actors are on the scene, creative sludges can emerge too.

Creativity

Are Conspiracy Theories Creative?

Hansika Kapoor Ph.D. on May 19, 2021

Making sense of unexplained events lies at the heart of conspiracy theories, which tend to be darkly creative narratives.

Making sense of unexplained events lies at the heart of conspiracy theories, which tend to be darkly creative narratives.

Creativity

Virtual Classrooms Bring Opportunities for Darker Forms of Creativity

Hansika Kapoor Ph.D. on February 3, 2021

The move to online or hybrid education brings with it novel mischief.

The move to online or hybrid education brings with it novel mischief.

Memes

Memes in the Times of Adversity

Hansika Kapoor Ph.D. on October 16, 2020

Whenever something bad happens, meme-makers are ready with a dark and humorous take.

Whenever something bad happens, meme-makers are ready with a dark and humorous take.

Deception

Layers of Deception in Netflix’s 'Money Heist'

Hansika Kapoor Ph.D. on August 17, 2020

Originality and deceit were present in equal measure in the meticulous heist.

Originality and deceit were present in equal measure in the meticulous heist.

Creativity

Crafty and Crooked, Yet Creative

Hansika Kapoor Ph.D. on July 13, 2020

Recent research identifies a positive link between creativity and unethicality.

Recent research identifies a positive link between creativity and unethicality.

Creativity

Is Incivility a Form of "Dark Creativity"?

Hansika Kapoor Ph.D. on June 19, 2020

Can rudeness be creative? What's the impact of uncivil speech on "civilized" society?

Can rudeness be creative? What's the impact of uncivil speech on "civilized" society?

Creativity

'Parasite' was a Master Class in Dark Creativity

Hansika Kapoor Ph.D. on May 15, 2020

The movie "Parasite" portrayed a family using deception and creative problem-solving to make ends meet.

The movie "Parasite" portrayed a family using deception and creative problem-solving to make ends meet.