Bad news for creative types – as a study reveals those with a flair for the arts are more likely to exhibit psychopathic qualities.
Researchers at De La Salle University in Manila, found that in actual fact, having some traits associated with psychopaths could be the key to creativity.
In particular, it was individual’s likelihood to engage in impulsive risk taking – a psychopathic trait – that was linked with the creative mind.
Speaking of the study, the researchers said:
“We argue that emotional disinhibition, in the form of psychopathic boldness, is actually integral to some creative personalities and functionally related to the creative process.
“Generally then, a creative field might not just shape a person into a more arrogant or dishonest personality, it might be actively selecting them, not for the sake of having disagreeable traits, but because such traits meaningfully co-vary with creativity itself.”
The study looked at 503 participants who were examined using gambling tasks and questionnaires.
