Abstract
Hans Eysenck (1993) proposes that creativity correlates with the personality construct of Psychoticism (P) in populations with high intelligence. However, this theory has only, at best, received mixed support, and recently Reuter et al. (2005) found that a biologically-based construct (SEEK), related to curiosity and problem solving, was instead related to creativity rather the P. The present study explored the relationship between personality and creativity further by using a multifaceted assessment approach to creativity, which included a self-report creativity instrument, a convergent thinking measure, and figural and verbal divergent thinking measures, across a population of 75 'non-artistic' degree university students (Non-Art) and 26 College of Fine Arts students (Art). No evidence for Eysenck's (1993) psychoticism-creativity link was found when comparing the groups, whereas the SEEK construct correlated with self-reported creativity. Of particular interest were the findings for participants without English as their first language, where the SEEK construct positively correlated with both divergent thinking and self-reported creativity. Additionally, a personality construct related to 'caring' was unexpectedly the strongest correlate of creativity. Implications of these findings are discussed.
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | Personality Down Under |
Subtitle of host publication | Perspectives from Australia |
Editors | Simon Boag |
Place of Publication | New York |
Publisher | Nova Science Publishers |
Pages | 283-292 |
Number of pages | 10 |
ISBN (Print) | 9781604567946, 9781608763092 |
Publication status | Published - 2008 |