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The Abnormal Psychology of Creativity and the Pathology of Normality

Bartlett, Dr. Steven James (2008) The Abnormal Psychology of Creativity and the Pathology of Normality. [Preprint]

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Abstract

Psychiatry faces a little-recognized dilemma in understanding and treating creative individuals. On the one hand, it is well established that extremes of mood among the creative are often valued by them, and hence they may resist treatment for affective disorders and discontinue prescribed medication. On the other hand, it is not well understood that many of the disorders ascribed to creative individuals are the result of their justifiable response to widespread but seldom recognized pathologies found in the normal population. Understanding the interplay between these two horns of the dilemma can help psychiatrists appreciate the need to be especially circumspect and reflective in their diagnostic classification and treatment of mood extremes among the creative.

Item Type:Preprint
Keywords:creativity, psychopathology, mental health, human evil, nosological uncertainties
Subjects:Psychology > Social Psychology
Psychology > Cognitive Psychology
Psychology > Clinical Psychology
ID Code:6210
Deposited By:Bartlett, Dr. Steven James
Deposited On:19 Sep 2008 14:56
Last Modified:19 Sep 2008 14:56

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