What do you think about creativity and mood disorders?
“Experts ponder link between creativity, mood disorders.”
That’s the headline that caught my attention yesterday morning on CNN.com. The headline belongs to this article that explores the possible link between mood disorders – such as bipolar disorder and depression – and creativity.
My initial reaction to the article was that it makes sense. Creative artists tend to have higher chances of developing a mood disorder than other people because of their tendency to become extremely sensitive to the world that surrounds us.
“Creative people in the arts must develop a deep sensitivity to their surroundings — colors, sounds, and emotions, says Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, professor of psychology and management at Claremont Graduate University in Claremont, California. Such hypersensitivity can lead people to worry about things that other people don’t worry about as much, he said, and can lead to depression.”
The theory could help explain why some of the world’s greatest creative geniuses and artists suffered from mood disorders.
But is it true? Is there a connection between creativity and mood disorders and vice versa?
“…the temperamental characteristics in question are thought to be somewhat inherent. ‘It’s a little hard to argue that engaging in creative activity could create the temperament, and it may be a little bit more possible that this temperament gives you a creative advantage.…’”
What do you think?
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