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Inspired by Mary Jane? Mechanisms underlying enhanced creativity in cannabis users
Emily M LaFrance1, Carrie Cuttler2
1Washington State University, Department of Psychology, P.O. Box 644820, Pullman, WA 99164-4820, USA.
Consciousness and Cognition
|October 25, 2017
Summary
Sober cannabis users report higher creativity and perform better on convergent thinking tests. However, these cannabis effects on creativity are linked to personality traits, specifically openness to experience.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Cannabis Research
Background:
- Previous studies suggest cannabis may influence creativity, but findings are inconsistent.
- The role of personality differences in cannabis users' creativity remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if sober cannabis users exhibit enhanced creativity compared to non-users.
- To determine if Big 5 personality traits mediate the relationship between cannabis use and creativity.
Main Methods:
- A comparative study involving sober cannabis users (n=412) and non-users (n=309).
- Participants completed assessments of cannabis consumption, Big 5 personality, self-reported creativity, and objective creativity tests.
Main Results:
- Sober cannabis users reported greater creativity and showed superior performance on convergent thinking tasks.
- The observed creativity differences between groups disappeared when controlling for higher levels of openness to experience in cannabis users.
Conclusions:
- Cannabis users may appear more creative, but this is an artifact of their personality, particularly higher openness to experience.
- Personality traits, not cannabis use itself, likely explain enhanced creativity in some users.
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