Creativity

Question 1

What is creativity?

Answer 1

The mental and social process involving the discovery of new ideas or concepts. This is fuelled by insight

Question 2

What is genius?

Answer 2

The manifestation of innate original abilities in individuals

Question 3

What did Karlsson (1978) find?

Answer 3

> Estimates psychosis in genius 30%

> Average lifetime risk 5%

Question 4

What did Claridge (1998) find?

Answer 4

Psychosis and creativity are indirectly related

Question 5

What did Karlsson (1984) find?

Answer 5

Genes responsible for a predisposition to schizophrenia also code for creativity

Question 6

What did Heston (1966) find?

Answer 6

Children of schizophrenic mothers more likely to develop schizophrenia, greater artistic and musical creativity

Question 7

What did Andreasen (1987) find?

Answer 7

> Longitudinal (15y)
Writers
Families of writers were riddled with both creativity and mental illness

Question 8

What did Jamison (1989) find?

Answer 8

> Writers
38% treated for a mood disorder
33% history of severe mood swings
25% report extended elated mood states