Creativity and mental illness

Dr. Daniel Nettle, a psychologist at Newcastle University, and
Helen Clegg, at the Open University in Milton Keynes in the
U.K., have carried out an interesting survey on schizophrenics.
This form of mental ill-health is so debilitating that those
with the condition are often socially isolated, have trouble
maintaining relationships and consequently reproduce at a much
lower rate than the general population. However, cases of
schizophrenia remain high--perhaps 1% of the population. "On
the face of it, Darwinism would suggest that the genes leading
to schizophrenia would eventually disappear from the gene
pool," said Dr. Nettle. The word is that they don't disappear.
They may have gone underground.

And just who are these silent "carriers"? In the survey,
schizophrenics, regular folks, and yep, artists were tested. In
425 responses, they found that artists and schizophrenics
scored equally high on "unusual cognition," a trait that gives
rise to the tendency to feel in between reality and a dream
state, or to feel overwhelmed by one's own thoughts. But the
artists and schizophrenics scored very differently on something
else called "introvertive anhedonia"--social withdrawal and
emotional emptiness. Unlike schizophrenics, artists, in line
with the general population, scored very low on this one.
According to Dr. Nettle, the results suggest that the
creativity of some artists is fuelled by the unique world-view
that mental illness can provide, but without the debilitating
part. Indeed, by directing their energy into artistic projects,
these artists may be sidestepping their schizophrenic
tendencies. Furthermore, the second part of the survey found
that compared with the general population, artists claimed to
have had twice as many partners since the age of 18--and the
number of partners increased with the seriousness with which
they pursued their art.

Dr. Nettle believes that this provides an answer to some
long-asked questions. Some of the genes that predispose to
schizophrenia might be carried by artists--and in many cases
will play a part in directing their creativity--but because
artists tend also not to develop full-blown schizophrenia, they
simply pass the bad genes onto their kids. Artists' unusual
take on the world and their ability to channel creativity,
makes them desirable and therefore likely to be good breeders.
In other words, artists, especially those who stand out, are in
themselves aphrodisiacs.

PS: "What a pile of crap. Don't expect honesty from artists at
any time. Massive delicate egos and a myopic view of reality
don't make for any kind of study. Artists aren't that special."
(Dinos Chapman, The Guardian, U.K.)

Esoterica: Whenever artists' legendary hanky-panky is
mentioned, as it often is, names like Picasso are dragged out.
Fact is he was a complex of guilt, drive, manipulation, ego,
sublimation and libido. But I'm wondering if a lot of artists
might be unusually chaste. Somehow, so many of us just seem too
busy. As usual, I could be wrong. I love being wrong. "I put my
orgasms on canvas." (Pablo Picasso)

Curious morning syndrome

At the risk of once more dividing the world into two main kinds
of people, there are two main kinds of people: There are those
who amuse themselves, and those who require others to amuse
them. It's been my experience that artists are pretty much of
the former kind. In their self-amusement, they're apt to be
creative.

Mornings can have special significance for these folks. They
don't need to stay in bed awaiting the amusements to
arrive--they're already there. They simply need to step into
the amusement area. For many artists, "Curious Morning
Syndrome," or CMS, primes the pump for productivity and
success. The blessing, of course, is not always evident to the
young. Sleeping-in has ruined many an early career. And some
folks must wait until middle or old age for CMS to kick in.
Some think it's a gene. I think it's a habit. I had to learn
it.

It's a matter of setting yourself up to be curious about the
outcome and potential of yesterday's efforts. Always leave
something unfinished when you shut down the studio at night.
Better still, leave several things unfinished. The easier, the
more enjoyable the task, the more the likelihood of an early
morning kick-off. At the same time, difficult challenges and
problematic passages are often best attacked when you are well
rested and fresh. While many work well late into the night, the
cold grey light of dawn presents opportunities to the prepared
worker. Surprises are uncommonly common to the curious at all
times. Curiosity may have killed the cat, but it has been
responsible for birthing a lot of art. "How is this going to
turn out?" is an essential question that an artist must ask.
Curiosity tramples drudgery and fires up improvisation.
Curiosity sets the hands and mind in motion. Self-amusement
becomes the "muse."

Every day is a new birth and a metaphor for life--a relentless
carousel with a joyous song and a view for every rotation. CMS
is not just a matter of getting into the work area before the
telephones of normal business hours begin to jingle. CMS means
allowing your own unique "owned processes" to draw you there.
Thus the miracle of creativity is regularly reborn. To see your
world, your studio and the things of your hands within it,
first thing, like a child, with baby eyes.



PS: "The child is curious. He wants to make sense out of
things, find out how things work, gain competence and control
over himself and his environment, and do what he can see other
people doing. He is open, perceptive, and experimental." (John
Holt)

Esoterica: It's also been my observation that artists who allow
themselves to be dependent on others don't thrive in the same
way that the independent ones do. Part of the reason is that
dependent people often don't seem to have enough time for an
inner life and private curiosity. Furthermore, it looks to me
like the independents are the most alive, the most
experimental, and often the most productive. Some of them are
quiet, but they are not bored, nor are they boring. In the
words of journalist Ellen Parr: "The cure for boredom is
curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity."