The therapeutic use of art-making amongst positive schizotypes: An experience sampling study

Holt, N J

Abstract

A considerable amount of research has tested the relationship between creativity and schizotypy, collectively suggesting that positive schizotypy (cognitive and perceptual aberrations, such as pseudo-hallucinations and déjà vu) is associated with creativity in the arts. However, there is a paucity of research on the phenomenology of creativity in this context to better understand how positive schizotypy might be expressed in the creative process. The current article uses the experience sampling method to explore the experiential correlates of schizotypy in a sample of artists. 41 artists were sampled over a week-long period, answering questions at random intervals that related to mood, cognition, state of consciousness and behaviour. This resulted in reports on 2495 moments of conscious experience. The sample scored significantly higher than normative samples on positive, impulsive and disorganised, but not negative, schizotypy, supporting previous research reporting high levels of positive schizotypy in artistic populations. Multi-level modelling demonstrated that positive schizotypy predicted a particular experiential profile in daily life, characterised by more frequent reports of the flow state, altered experience, internal dialogue, vivid imagery, distractibility, introspection and high self-esteem. Positive schizotypy (but not other dimensions of schizotypy) was also a significant predictor of art-making and inspiration in daily life. Random intercept and slope models were conducted to examine the import of experiential variables on the relationship between positive schizotypy and art-making. This suggested that positive schizotypy did not moderate the extent to which dissociative states (such as flow) or cognitive variables (such as vivid imagery) were associated with art-making. However, there were significant cross-level interactions between positive schizotypy and indicators of well-being, where positive schizotypy moderated the relationship between art-making and both positive affect and self-esteem (in a positive direction). This study suggests that positive schizotypy, in a sample of artists, is associated with some ‘adaptive’ experiences, including higher levels of art-making, inspiration, flow and self-esteem in daily life. It further suggests that art-making might serve a therapeutic function for artists high in positive schizotypy, supporting a ‘therapeutic hypothesis’ for the relationship between positive schizotypy and artistic creativity.

• Presentation Conference Type: Conference Paper (unpublished)
• Conference Name: British Psychological Society Annual Conference
• Start Date: May 2, 2018
• End Date: May 4, 2018
• Acceptance Date: Dec 19, 2017
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 7, 2019
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Keywords: creativity, schizotypy, dissociation, flow, affect, cognition
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/877118
• Additional Information: Title of Conference or Conference Proceedings : British Psychological Society Annual Conference