Schizotypy versus openness and intelligence as predictors of creativity.

Full Abstract

Schizophrenia-spectrum risk alleles may persist in the population, despite their reproductive costs in individuals with schizophrenia, through the possible creativity benefits of mild schizotypy in non-psychotic relatives. To assess this creativity-benefit model, we measured creativity (using 6 verbal and 8 drawing tasks), schizotypy, Big Five personality traits, and general intelligence in 225 University of New Mexico students. Multiple regression analyses showed that openness and intelligence, but not schizotypy, predicted reliable observer ratings of verbal and drawing creativity. Thus, the 'madness-creativity' link seems mediated by the personality trait of openness, and standard creativity-benefit models seem unlikely to explain schizophrenia's evolutionary persistence.

Author information

Author/s: Miller, Geoffrey F (GF); Tal, Ilanit R (IR);

Affiliation: Psychology Department, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque 87131-1161, USA. gfmiller(-atsign-)unm.edu

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Schizophrenia research (Schizophr Res), published in Netherlands. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2007-Jul; vol 93 (issue 1-3) : pp 317-24

Dates: Created 2007/06/04; Completed 2007/08/30;

PMID: 17399953, status: MEDLINE (last retrieved date: 2/18/2009)

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