Creativity and Madness

[Sienthal]

Do you believe their is a link? Explain your reasons.

I doubt my opinion is worth writing entirely, so I'll read your reasons and respond to them with a few thoughts of mine.

[Mr Bean]

We are all Mad, The problem is when everyone else figures out your Madder then they are and call for the nice lightly mad men in white coats to take you to the fun Padded rooms

[Nick]

Do you believe their is a link? Explain your reasons.

I doubt my opinion is worth writing entirely, so I'll read your reasons and respond to them with a few thoughts of mine.

(Very) Generally speaking (not to mention oversimplifying horribly), 'madness' is often a matter of extremes.

For example, perfectionism is often a desirable trait - it embodies a desire to get things just right. However, a perfectionist can, perhaps reluctantly, overrule their desire for perfection and say 'good enough'. Taken to extremes, however, to the point where conscious restriction of the desire for perfection becomes impossible, we start to get into a form of obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Similarly, some of the desirable traits of creativity may, if taken to extremes, become classed as madness.

So, are their parallels in observed behaviour? Yes.
Is it possible that some of the root causes are related? Yes.
Does this mean being creative means you're more likely to go mad? I doubt it.

Determining where the line between eccentricity and pathology lies is an extraordinarily difficult task - that's why psychologists and psychiatrists have to work so damn hard.

So, to get back to the original question:
Is there a link? Possibly
Is there a link solid enough to be meaningful or useful to anyone but a psychologist or psychiatrist? No.

[Cpt_Frank]

Madness and creativity are essentially the same. Proof?
Look at the infamous works of Hieronimus Bosch.

[starfury]

Madness and creativity are essentially the same. Proof?
Look at the infamous works of Hieronimus Bosch.

that is correct, many of the greatest figures in history can be defined as both creative and mad at the same time very easily.

[Kolinar Romanov]

It's all aboput perception.

Some of the most creative geniuses in the world, are, to some, mad. There was Tony Buzan, who talked irrelevant subjects during any important interview. Or EInstein, who was an oddball himself.

But, there is, in my opinion, a difference from odd people, who are creative geniuses, and people who are just mad. Picture it: try comparing Willy Wonka to a man in a strait jacket, and you'll know what I mean......

[RayCav of ASVS]

It's all aboput perception.

Some of the most creative geniuses in the world, are, to some, mad. There was Tony Buzan, who talked irrelevant subjects during any important interview. Or EInstein, who was an oddball himself.

But, there is, in my opinion, a difference from odd people, who are creative geniuses, and people who are just mad. Picture it: try comparing Willy Wonka to a man in a strait jacket, and you'll know what I mean......

Meh, I think there's a little in all of us, but some moreso than others.

Look at me, I wrote three fanfics that people really like on ASVS. And look at me now, the only real reason why I'm posting is because I want my Yuri Avatar to show up below yours

[Lusankya]

We're all mad. It's just that most people are mad in the same way.

[Darth Yoshi]

That makes sense. If we're mad in the same way, then our madness will be perceived as the norm.