According to Stuart Baker-Brown, a UK photographer and writer, new research is being undertaken into the link between creative genius and schizophrenia(http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/7037314.stm).
Albert Einstein, Vincent Van Gogh, Isaac Newton, Emily Dickenson, Tennessee Williams, Jack Kerouac, John Nash, Syd Barett, and Vaslav Nijinsky (amongst others) have displayed schizophrenic symptoms.
In fact, 1% of the human population has some form of schizophrenia.
Like conditions such as ADD, ADHD, Bi-polar disorder, and mood and anxiety disorders, there is little understanding as to the cause of chemical ‘malfunctioning’ in the brain. According to neurosurgeon, Graeme Fieggan, schizophrenia results in the inability of the brain to filter out information, some times resulting in psychosis, hallucinations and delusions.
Since the sensitivity and creativity of schizophrenic individuals is so misunderstood, the National Institutes of Health in Britain, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, and the East Carolina University in the United States are exploring the link between creativity and chemical functions in the brains of schizophrenics.
I wonder how much genius society has lost because of ignorance and stigmatization of so-called mental illness. Perhaps we should stop judging and start listening?
4 comments:
Your question at the end of the post has hit the nail on its head.
I was enlightened by Sir Ken Robinson and Claire Choi, whom both explained the effect of the judgemental behaviour of parents on their children. I have realised that rather than comment on manifestations of creativity (drawings, plays etc), we should ask why? how? what? I certainly believe that the jugdemental nature of society has stifled our individual creativity.
The Judge in me has been banished!
Yes, I also was quite astonished at how the things we say to children and each otherplace them in a cage. I think someone should write a blog post about 'speaking and listening to children/ people' so that creativity is enhanced in them.
In a highly interesting class discussion held with Claire Choi, Child Psychologist, it was mentioned that children diagnosed with ADHD and ADD tend to exhibit high levels of creativity. What is also interesting is children diagnosed with ADHD and ADD are very easily distracted with short concentration spans. What is the link? This is a highly interesting topic in that it may, if studied in depth, indicate or uncover what heightened characteristics produce the need and ability to create. It has been purported in many studies that ADD and ADHD children are highly intelligent. Does intelligence have a link to creative expression?
It is believed that Van Gogh did not have schizophrenia but a form of porphyria (possily acute intermittant), a blood disease that may present itself in psychosis and hallucinations if untreated. King George the 3rd was also beleaved to have the blood disease. 3 in 1000 white South Africans are believed to have Variete porphyria.
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