Centrality of the creative process: Intuition, autotelic flow, and childhood adversity

Abstract

Individuals who claim that creativity has an existential centrality acknowledge a need to engage in creative activities. This study (n = 460) examined creative centrality in relationship to autotelic dispositional flow, the three intuition dimensions (inferential, affective, holistic), and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Results indicated that ACEs and intuition predicted creative centrality; however, autotelic dispositional flow was not a significant predictor. Creative centrality was significantly greater in the high ACE group compared to the no ACE and few ACE groups. Creative centrality is positively associated with the three dimensions of intuition (inferential, affective, holistic). Individuals with a history of substantial childhood adversity also identified increased desire to engage in the creative process. The findings suggest that engaging in the creative process differs from autotelic dispositional flow experiences. Further study is recommended to understand the role of intuition in creative centrality and how autotelic flow differs from creative centrality.