Saturday, April 30, 2016

"Those With High Scores On A Psychopath Test Are Better At Creative Thinking"

"A new study by researchers at De La Salle University in the Philippines suggests those with psychopathic tendencies are often very creative, suggesting the ability to think boldly and ruthlessly can help with the development of great ideas."
“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,” the researchers wrote.
In controlled quantities, psychopathy can be a good thing. Numerous studies have shown a lack of empathy can be advantageous in the business world. Interestingly, the new study shows that uninhibited psychopathy can boost the creative spark, something different from carefully applied Machiavellian plans.
In addition to suggesting that a bold, uninhibited approach may be best for creative thinking, the research provides more evidence that psychopaths shouldn’t necessarily be marginalized.
“It could turn out that the price of human discovery, whether we like it or not, is to give the trickster more credit,” the writers conclude.
Link to article

8 comments:

ndspinelli said...

Well, if our resident propagandist needs proof he is not a psychopath, he merely needs to provide some of his Laura Bush Diary and Marilyn's Diary posts. Proof positive he is clearly a sane, albeit poor, propagandist.

edutcher said...

nd seems unhappy he isn't a psychpath.

ricpic said...

I'll bet all boldness is regarded as psychopathic by these "scientists." By their definition Lewis & Clark were psychopaths, Henry Ford was a psychopath, Lindbergh was a psychopath. But at least they were successful psychopaths. Think of all the psychopaths working on something undreamed of by anyone but them, working on it in the garage right now and bound, 9.9 out of 10 of them, to fail. Which will make them failed psychopaths. Proof that they are even more psychopathic than the psychopaths who didn't fail. Absurd, right? Just like this study.

ndspinelli said...

ricpic, Many geniuses were/are bipolar. Churchill, Beethoven, Lincoln, to name just a few.

Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...

Sounds more coincidental than nefarious.

Then again, Hitler was't completely untalented when it came to watercolors.

ndspinelli said...

RITMO, There's some evidence the genius comes through during the manic phases of bipolar people. That's a theme in the series, Homeland. Carrie does her best work when she goes off her meds.

ndspinelli said...

She's also crazier than a hoot owl when she does.

Synova said...

People have different levels of empathetic ability but dear dog it seems like the world is overrun by people who feel like they are a better person if they *refuse* to separate logic from empathy. I don't think at all that they *can't* do it. I think that they have decided or been taught or had so much reinforcement from their peer-group to value the feelz that any hint that someone approached a problem unemotionally is treated as a heresy.

"That's not how economics works."

"Why do you hate poor people!"

Some people really are about as empathetic as a brick. Some undoubtedly are boarderline psychopaths (but were brought up right and understand right from wrong.) Understanding why people do what they do, respond to events the way they respond to events, like the politicians they like; that requires empathy BUT that understanding has to be applied to problem solving with the *empathy* that helped you understand it removed or we may as well remain nothing but poo flinging monkeys.