A causal model of the way emotions intervene between creative intelligence and conventional skills

Abstract

While a person's inclination to be creative is usually thought of as enhancing the person's practical capabilities, creative inclinations may also undermine practical performance due to the emotional reactions which can accompany the creative personality. This study tests an hypothesized causal model in which the enabling and the emotionally distractive sides of creativity are explored together. The model was tested on a sample of 243 professionally educated women—the difficulties these women have had in putting together a career with other aspects of their lives was used as the focus of emotional problem sensitivity. The model incorporates five constructs: (1) Creative Intelligence; (2) Conventional Skills; (3) Problem Sensitivity; (4) Resilience; and (5) the emotion of life Pattern Disintegrity. Of the six hypothesized causal paths in the model, five were supported by the data. One path had to be dropped, and two other paths were added in order to make the model better fit the data. With these modifications, the chi-square testing for a difference between the model and the data was insignificant, indicating a good fitting model. In the revised model which emerged, two key paths indicate that Creative Intelligence increases both Conventional Skills and Problem Sensitivity. However, in a third path, Problem Sensitivity has the effect of undermining Conventional Skills. This incompatibility in the two consequences of Creative Intelligence suggests a natural tension in thought/ emotion patterns. The solution to this tension requires a careful balancing of the emotional reactive and the skill enhancement consequences of creativity. The model also demonstrates how the quality of Resilience relieves Problem Sensitivity and depressive outlook.