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Is psychopathology elevated in Big-C visual artists and scientists?
Kendra S Knudsen1, Susan Y Bookheimer2, Robert M Bilder2
1Department of Psychology.
Journal of Abnormal Psychology
|April 16, 2019
Summary
Exceptional creativity is not linked to mental illness. However, subclinical schizotypal and socially divergent traits may be associated with high achievement, particularly in visual artists.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Cognitive Science
- Psychiatry
Background:
- The link between psychopathology and exceptional creativity is a persistent idea.
- Limited empirical evidence exists to support or refute this association.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between psychopathology and creativity in exceptionally creative individuals.
- To compare mental disorder prevalence and creative cognition in eminent creators versus a matched comparison group.
Main Methods:
- Assessed psychopathology (schizotypal traits, autism spectrum traits, mental disorders) and creativity in Big-C visual artists (VIS), Big-C scientists (SCI), and a smart comparison group (SCG).
- Utilized laboratory-based creativity tests and self-report symptom measures.
- Matched groups on demographic and cognitive factors (age, sex, ethnicity, education, IQ).
Main Results:
- No higher prevalence of lifetime or current mental disorders in Big-C groups compared to SCG or general population estimates.
- Individuals without a history of psychiatric disorders scored higher on creative cognition tests.
- Visual artists reported more subclinical schizotypal and socially divergent traits than scientists and the comparison group.
Conclusions:
- Exceptional creativity and creativity test performance are not associated with mental illness.
- Subclinical schizotypal and socially divergent traits may be linked to Big-C achievement, especially in visual artists.
- The sensitivity of laboratory creativity tests for Big-C cognition warrants further investigation.
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