Mad Genius: A Look into Bipolar Disorder and Creativity

Augustus Saint-Gaudens once said, “What garlic is to salad, insanity is to art.” This quote summarizes the stereotype of the creative world as being whimsical and a bit loony; furthermore, one must consider if there is any merit to this opinion. Much debate is focused around this topic. Specifically, this paper will focus on the merit of a connection between bipolar disorder and creativity. Irwin G. Sarason and Barbara R. Sarason (2005) define bipolar disorder as a mood disorder classified by an alteration between a state of mania and depression. In addition, Albert Rothenberg, M.D. (2001) gives insight into the scientific definition of creativity. He believes januvial processes (brain’s ability to conceive multiple opposites simultaneously) and homospatial processes (conceiving two or more discrete entities occupying the same space, which results in a conception leading to the articulation of new identities) are necessary in creativity. The New York Times questioned the general populations’ definition of this potentially lucrative trait. The writers questioned, “What separates humans from animals and ever more advanced machines?’ and [it] gives the answer: ‘We make art” (as cited in Rothenberg, 2001). With these general definitions of bipolar disorder spectrum and creativity, this paper will look into the history, causes, and effects of the disorder on creativity.

Curiosity dating back to the Greeks involving this connection has prompted a fair amount of research. Three dominant figures in the psychological field, Jamison, Andreasen, and Richards, are key researchers in the relation of bipolar disorder and creativity. These three psychologists have differing beliefs on the subject, but unanimously agree on the genetic co...

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...cts of the disorder can be marked positively in the work artists of all fields produce, but devastating results are also a reality. Therefore, we must as a society remember the critical disadvantages of this disorder before focusing on how society as a whole may benefit.

References

Richards, R., Kinney, D. K., Lunde, I., Benet, M., & Merzel, A. C. (1988). Creativity in manic-depressives, cyclothymes, their normal relatives, and control subjects.

Rothenberg, A. (2001). Bipolar illness, creativity, and treatment.

Sarason I., & Sarason B. (2005) Abnormal Psychology: The proglem of maladaptive behavior. Eleventh edition.

Schlesinger, J. (2009). Creative mythconceptions: A closer look at the evidence for the "mad genius" hypothesis.

Shapiro, P. J., & Weisberg, R. W. (1999). Creativity and bipolar diathesis: Common behavioural and cognitive components.