|
|
|
A review of the literature by Stein yielded the following fist of personality characteristics that have been found associated with the creative individual.
The creative individual:
1. Is an achieving person. He scores higher on a Self‑Description Test of need achievement than in a projective (TAT) [Thematic Apperception Test] measure of the same variable, possibly because his achievement is fulfilled in actuality and need not be converted into fantasy.
2. Is motivated by a need for order.
3. Has a need for curiosity.
4. Is self‑assertive, dominant, aggressive, and self‑sufficient. He leads and possesses initiative.
5. Rejects repression, is less inhibited, less formal, and less conventional, is bohemianly unconcerned, is radical, and is low on measures of authoritarian values. However, MacKinnon finds that the creative individual is not "bohemian."
6. Has persistence of motive, liking and capacity for work, self‑discipline, perseverance, high energy‑output, is thorough.
7. Is independent and autonomous.
8. Is constructively critical, less contented, dissatisfied.
9. Is widely informed, has wide ranging interests, is versatile.
10. Is open to feelings and emotions. For him feeling is more important than thinking, he is more subjective, he possesses vitality and enthusiasm.
11. Is aesthetic in his judgment and value orientation.
12. Is low in economic values or is a poor business man, however, found with the all port‑Vernon‑Lindzey Scale of Values that their more creative industrial research chemists did have higher economic values than their less creative colleagues.
13. Possesses freer expression of what has been described as feminine interests and lack of masculine aggressiveness.
14. Has little interest in interpersonal relationships, does not want much social interaction, is introverted, is lower in social values, and is reserved.
15. Is emotionally unstable but capable of using his instability effectively, not well adjusted by psychological definition but adjusted in the broader sense of being socially useful and happy in his work.
16. Sees himself as creative. He is also more likely to describe himself in terms that investigators have found to be related to creativity than is true of less creative individuals. For example, MicKinnon in his study of architects found that his more creative group described themselves more frequently as inventive, determined, independent, individualistic, enthusiastic, and industrious," while his less creative group described themselves more frequently as "responsible, sincere, reliable, dependable, clear thinking, tolerant, and understanding". In short, where creative architects more often stress their inventiveness, independence, and individuality, their enthusiasm, determination, and industry, less creative members of the profession are impressed by their virtue and good character and by their rationality and sympathetic concern for others. Considered in terms of their ideals, MacKinnon also found that the more creative group would like to be more sensitive, while the less creative groups would like to be more original and, at the same time, more self‑controlled and disciplined.
17. Is intuitive and empathic.
18. Is less critical of himself. He is less inclined to use negative and unfavorable adjectives.
19. Makes a greater impact on others.
These findings do not characterize any single individual. No creative individual has all these characteristics, but a creative person probably has more of them than does a less creative person. Evidence for personality factors characteristic of creative persons comes from studies of individuals in a wide variety of different scientific and professional fields: biology, psychology, chemistry, engineering, architecture. Just as these individuals differed from each other in field of endeavor, they also differed from each other in age, educational status, administrative status, etc. And in the studies in which they participated, there were also differences in the psychological tests and techniques used to gather data as to their creativity.
|
|
|