A miserable experience as a child creates a creative experience

byDavid Hofmann

In a survey targeting performance artists such as dancers, actors, musicians, when they were children, abuse, neglect,Dysfunctional familyPeople who experienced adversity experiences have been shown to be more likely to have a "creative experience" related to creative processes and immersive sensations.

Frontiers | Childhood Adversity and the Creative Experience in Adult Professional Performing Artists | Psychology
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00111/full

Study: Performing artists who suffered in childhood tend to have more intense creative experiences
http://www.psypost.org/2018/05/study-performing-artists-suffered-childhood-tend-intense-creative-experiences-51152

Scientists have found a strong link between a terrible childhood and being intensely creative
https://www.sciencealert.com/childhood-adversity-linked-to-intense-creative-process

Researchers at California State University conducted a survey on 234 professional performers. Of the subjects, 83 (36%) were actors, directors, and designers, 129 (55%) were dancers, 20 (9%) were musicians and opera singers, with male 71 30%) and women were 163 (70%). The investigation took place in such a way that the subject self-declared about adversity of childhood, sensation of shame, creative experience, fantasy tendency, anxiety, immersion level to activity, etc.

As a result of the survey, in comparison with the research result of 1998 for Adult Childhood Experiences (Adversity Childhood Experience / ACE) for 9508 adults, performing artists were asked about emotional abuse and child abuse It turned out that the level experiencing neglect is high.

bywang xi

In addition, the subjects were divided into three groups: "Group with a high adversity-based childhood experience", "Group with low or moderate adversity-like childhood experience level", "Group with little or no adversity childhood experience" It was divided into groups.

Performers with high ACE level reported high events of high level of anxiety, internal feeling of shame, reported events that became many traumas, and fantasy tendency was high, but on the other hand, "the loss of ego "It seemed that it seemed to be closely related to the creative process from the features such as" easy to experience "," easy to feel the power beyond ourselves "," easy to have strong emotions "," high awareness of technical power or expression power " "They say. In addition, this group is deeply immersed, it is easy to gain a sense of inspiration and discovery in the creative process. It has also been reported that it is easy to enter immersive state, high sensitivity to art, high awareness of criticism.

In addition, the group with a high ACE level seems to be deeply appreciative of the creative process that self and the world are connected deeply, it is regarded as "great power" for life.

byHeidi Yanulis

The survey of this time was that the performers made self-declaration, so personal prejudice tends to be included, because the subjects were limited to performance artists, it is difficult to compare with other people It is cited as a point.

However, the researchers said about the findings, "Adult performers who experienced adversarial childhood are more likely to recognize creative processes and find their value, and the ability to enjoy the creative processes of these groups, It may indicate "the ability to recover from a predicament" ".

Paula Thomson, a choreographer and psychologist who studied, "It is sad that the subjects participating in our survey experienced adversity childhood, such as assault from adults in various ways." "Many subjects I have multiple traumas, but on the other hand I used my passion as a material for performance and creativity. "