Creativity An Introduction

Creativity is defined as the ability to generate ideas or products that are both original and in some way useful or adaptive (Barron, 1969). At the highest level, creative ideas, processes, and products have benefited humanity by helping us to survive and adapt to a changing environment (Richards, 1990). At a more personal level, creative work in the arts, music, literature, science, technology, and medicine has reduced suffering, improved daily living, and enriched our mental and physical experience of the world. Research demonstrates that simply engaging in creative activity can provide physical and mental health benefits as well (Cohen, 2006; Eschleman et al., 2014; Conner, DeYoung, and Silvia, 2016). Yet, despite these abundant benefits of creative work, the notion that there is a relationship between creativity and mental illness – the “mad genius” concept – is widespread. If creativity is so beneficial, can it also be related to increased risk for mental illness?