Recently, I came across this interview with the authors of a book called The Invisible Plague: The Rise of Mental Illness from 1750 to the Present by E. Fuller Torrey, M.D. and Judy Miller. Here’s the link:
http://rutgerspress.rutgers.edu/acatalog/torrey_interview.html
The writers say:
Torrey & Miller: We note in the book that many writers had episodes of insanity, including William Collins, Christopher Smart, William Cowper, Charles Lamb, John Clare, and Virginia Woolf. One reason for this is simply that insanity was becoming increasingly prevalent during that period. Another possible reason is that some types of insanity, especially manic-depressive illness, may produce more creativity. The relationship between insanity and creativity has been debated since ancient times.
I’m going to have to pick up this book. Some types of insanity may produce more creativity? If the mental health profession is aware of this, are they tapping into it? Do many doctors also have episodes of insanity? The relationship between insanity and creativity…I find that so…intriquing!
Tags: APA, author, creativity, insanity, psychological tools, writing
November 9, 2009 at 4:43 am
There are actually quite a few studies into things like this and one of the ones I read, a few years ago and I don’t know how acurate it was, suggested that people in the creative industries were up to 30% more likely to suffer some form of mental instability than average. The study did a break down within the creative fields and I don’t remember all the details but I remember writers were second most likely, underneath painters. Possibly the reality is that people in the creative industries just have a different way of looking at things but it is interesting to see some of the data sometimes.
November 9, 2009 at 2:42 pm
Thanks for your comment! I especially liked what you wrote about creative people looking at things differently. Although it’s probably already been done, I would like to read a book about an artist looking at ‘insanity’ as defined by psychology, through creative eyes. I recently read “A Mind That Found Itself” by Clifford Whittingham Bee (available as a free e-book on-line) which heightened my interest in psychology versus the artist and insanity. I would greatly appreciate any other reading suggestions.
November 10, 2009 at 11:53 pm
What a relief. I found this information at the APA website. All artists are invited to participate. I can’t find any of their published findings, but maybe they’re still working on something?
The Society for the Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity and the Arts extends membership to anyone with an interest in the arts and psychology.
Div. 10 at a glance
Div. 10 (Society for the Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity and the Arts) is committed to theoretical and empirical interdisciplinary scholarship about the visual, literary and performing arts. Members of the division study three interrelated topics: creativity, the arts and audience response to the arts. Div. 10 also focuses on the use of the arts as
diagnostic and therapeutic tools,
and creativity in the sciences.
Membership in Div. 10 provides a subscription to the division’s biannual bulletin, Bulletin of Psychology and the Arts, access to the division’s listserv and discounts on five specialized journals. Div. 10 members are also entitled to apply for the Berlyne Award, given to outstanding junior scholar researchers, and the Arnheim Scholar Award for outstanding achievement in the area of psychology and the arts. For more information on the journals or awards, or to join, visit Div. 10’s Web site at http://www.apa.org/divisions/div10/homepage.html.