The association between creativity and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a topic of growing interest in the scientific literature. Studies suggest that, although ADHD is often associated with cognitive deficits, it may also be linked to advantages in creative processes, especially related to divergent thinking.
Scientific Evidence
1. Creative Processes and ADHD Symptoms
Individuals with ADHD symptoms, especially subclinical ones, demonstrate greater capacity for divergent thinking and more original results in complex problem reconstruction tasks. This creativity tends to be driven by symptoms of hyperactivity and impulsivity, rather than inattention (Boot et al., 2017).
2. Real-World Creative Achievements
Adults with ADHD reported greater real-world creative achievements, such as generating original ideas, especially in competitive situations. These results suggest that goal-directed motivation may be a central factor in enhancing creative performance (Boot et al., 2017).
3. Children with ADHD and Divergent Thinking
Children diagnosed with ADHD tend to score higher on tests that assess fluency and originality, which are components of divergent thinking. These results reflect a greater tendency to create unconventional responses, linked to characteristics of the disorder, such as reduced inhibition of irrelevant stimuli (Gonzalez-Carpio et al., 2017).
4. Neuropsychological Aspects and Creativity
Individuals with ADHD often have lower cognitive inhibition, which can facilitate unusual associations and creative responses. This characteristic is associated with a differentiated activation of neural networks, especially involving the right hemisphere, often related to creativity (Hoogman et al., 2020).
Conclusion
Although ADHD presents significant challenges, the literature highlights a positive association with creativity, especially in contexts that require divergent thinking and originality. However, it is essential to understand that this creativity may be more evident in specific domains and may vary according to the individual profile and context.
References:
• Boot, N., Nevicka, B., & Baas, M. (2017). Subclinical symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are associated with specific creative processes. Personality and Individual Differences, 114, 73–81. Available at: link.
• Gonzalez-Carpio, G., Serrano, J.P., & Nieto, M. (2017). Creativity in Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Psychology, 8(3), 319-334. Available at: link.
• Hoogman, M., Stolte, M., Baas, M., & Kroesbergen, E. (2020). Creativity and ADHD: A review of behavioral studies, the effect of psychostimulants and neural underpinnings. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 119, 66–85. Available at: link.
