Does a messy desk breed creativity in lumber trading? According to the surprising results of a study reported in The New York Times here, the answer to that question is yes.

Researchers at the University of Minnesota have discovered that working in chaos has significant advantages. “Few previous studies found much virtue in disarray. The broken-windows theory, proposed decades ago, posits that even slight disorder and neglect can encourage nonchalance, poor discipline, and nihilism. Chaos begets chaos. But in the study led by Dr. Kathleen D. Vohs, a behavioral scientist, disordered offices encouraged originality and a search for novelty. ‘Disorderly environments seem to inspire breaking free of tradition, which can produce fresh insights,’ conclude Dr. Vohs and her co-authors.”

Based on this finding, is it such a leap to assume that when parents are not too concerned about little ones making messes, it probably confirms creative parenting? But then, as learned in an earlier post, it could also lead to shrinking testicles?

“Dak Desk”