A specific thinking style explains why dark personality traits are linked to creativity
Why are traits like narcissism and psychopathy linked to creative success? New research indicates the answer lies in a specific thinking style—one that helps individuals filter out social constraints to focus on novel solutions.
A recent study published in Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts has found a connection between dark personality traits and creative success. This link is believed to be mediated by a cognitive style called field independence, which is characterized by an ability to analyze information in an independent manner. The research, led by Marco Giancola of the University of L’Aquila in Italy, studied 212 university students recruited from various degree programs.
The participants completed questionnaires to measure Dark Triad traits, such as Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and narcissism, as well as a cognitive style assessment using the Embedded Figures Test. The test required participants to quickly locate a simple shape within a complex, colorful figure, which indicated a more field-independent cognitive style.
Creative achievement was measured using a questionnaire that asked participants to self-report on various domains of creativity, such as visual arts, scientific discovery, and culinary arts. The study found that individuals with higher levels of Dark Triad traits, particularly Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and narcissism, were faster at completing the visual test, suggesting they process information in a highly field-independent manner.
This cognitive style appears to act as a bridge connecting dark personality traits to creative success. The findings indicate that while dark personality traits are often viewed negatively, they may contribute to creative achievement due to an analytical, self-directed way of processing information.
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