Carson (2014) Flashcards
Study’s aim
Summarises the “mad genius” debate and suggests a way to reframe the issue so that it can benefit the field rather than divide it. Creativity cannot effectively be studied as an overarching entity; it must be broken into smaller pieces and studied from an individual differences perspective to provide meaningful results relating to brain function
Creativity
Has been described as a human survival mechanism that allows both the individual and the species to adapt to the environment in real time. It is also a sought-after character trait in diverse fields.
“Inverted U” model/”dose-dependent” relationship of creativity and psychopathology
Studies show that highly creative individuals are at greater risk for certain disorders than are members of the general public. Specifically, individuals with small doses of psychopathology of a pathological genotype, are more likely to be creative than their mentally healthy counterparts or those with full-blown disorder
Cognitive disinhibition
Allows a broadening of stimuli available to consciousness while high IQ affords the cognitive resources to process and manipulate that increased stimuli to form novel and creative ideas without the individual becoming overwhelmed and confused
Shared vulnerability model of creativity and psychopathology
Suggests that creativity and psychopathology may share genetically-influenced factors that are expressed as either pathology or creativity depending on the presence or absence of other moderating factors
Novelty salience
Associated with the motivation to explore novel aspects of ideas or objects via the dopamine reward system. An example of a shared vulnerability component
Novelty-seeking
Associated with creative personality, creative drive, alcohol abuse and addiction, and bipolar states of hypomania and mania
Neural hyperconnectivity
Characterised by an abnormal neural linking of brain areas that are not typically functionally connected
Hyperconnectivity
Linked to bizarre associations in schizophrenia, and noted in bipolar individuals
Mood lability
A characteristic of mood disorders. Changes in mood, especially increases in positive affect, have been shown to increase divergent thinking. Highly creative individuals with mood disorders demonstrate patterns of higher creative productivity during upswings in mood
Mad genius debate
A polarising and divisive issue in the field of creativity research. We should reframe this debate as a question of how individuals with vulnerability to psychopathology differ in their strategies of solving creative tasks from those who do not display such vulnerabilities
