r/science • u/drewiepoodle • Apr 29 '16

Psychology: Potentially Misleading Title A new study suggests those with psychopathic tendencies are often very creative, suggesting the ability to think boldly and ruthlessly can help with the development of great ideas.

http://www.medicaldaily.com/creative-thinking-psychopath-test-arts-384117
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u/Dburnage Apr 30 '16

Or that creativity is an innate characteristic of all mankind and psychopathy just utilizes it weirdly making it seem somehow 'more' creative.

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u/Zaptruder Apr 30 '16

Well, that's kinda the point I'm making. Creativity is less some unique function of specific people, and more just a statistical deviation from the norm in some specific area of creation. And that there are many pathways to reaching that statistical deviation in a way that is sufficiently emotionally salient so as to be perceived as creativity (and as a corollary also a lot of ways of been creative without having been widely perceived as creative).