A new study found that the fine, fine line between genius and madness is even hazier than what we first thought. Artists and psychopaths share the same traits, a team of researchers in the Philippines found.
People who possess artistic prowess are, indeed, flawed. According to Filipino researcher Adrianne John Galang from the De La Salle University in Manila, highly creative people tend to display several antisocial behaviors. The list includes risk taking and dishonesty. Ouch.
The Filipino researchers conducted three studies. The first study asked over 500 participants to answer a specially designed questionnaire that is capable of determining their narcissistic and psychopathic predispositions.
The second study included 250 college students and searched for signs of disinhibition, cruelty and boldness.
The third and final study consisted of 93 participants wherein the researchers monitored the individuals' excitement levels while playing gambling games.
The collective findings showed that "psychopathic boldness" is fundamental to some of the participants' creative personalities. The researchers found that highly creative people tend to display more psychopathic traits.
"We argue that emotional disinhibition, in the form of psychopathic boldness, is actually integral to some creative personalities and functionally related to the creative process," the researchers said.
The findings suggested that the creative field is not only capable of shaping artistic individuals to develop dishonest or more arrogant traits, but the field could actually be "selecting" these people actively.
However, the selection does not necessarily welcome the presence of these "disagreeable traits." The researchers argued instead that such traits co-vary with being creative.
Galang linked the dishonesty and treacherous traits to the
"Trickster," a mythical figure whose unique problem-solving abilities often overlap good and evil.
The Trickster is neither good nor bad but possesses such craftiness that can be utilized for positive creativity.
Putting things in perspective, the mere act of getting up on stage and performing, or sharing your inner, darkest thoughts with the world through a song or paint on canvas or performances on the big screen requires an unusual level of confidence and courage.
The results were published in the Personality and Individual Differences journal on April 16.
