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On Risks and Side Effects: Does Creative Accomplishment Make us Narcissistic? Cover

On Risks and Side Effects: Does Creative Accomplishment Make us Narcissistic?

By: Emanuel Jauk and  Natia Sordia  
Open Access
|Jan 2019

Abstract

Kaufman (2018) calls for a research agenda on outcomes of creativity. Despite its many conceivable positive consequences, we focus on narcissism as a potentially less socially desirable outcome of creative accomplishment in this commentary. Evidence from cross-sectional studies suggests a systematic link between different indicators of creativity and narcissism. We argue that - irrespective of methodological challenges associated with this research - it seems indeed plausible that creativity is associated with narcissism. The link is presumably strongest in individuals who engage in creativity for recognition motives. Narcissistic strivings might ignite creative endeavors, and positive social feedback for creative accomplishments might fuel narcissism. While more research needs to be done to understand the causal nature of the effects, the available evidence points to narcissism as a socially undesirable aspect of creativity which is not commonly discussed.

Language: English
Page range: 182 - 187
Submitted on: Nov 15, 2018
Accepted on: Dec 10, 2018
Published on: Jan 3, 2019
Published by: University of Białystok
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Publication frequency: 2 issues per year

© 2019 Emanuel Jauk, Natia Sordia, published by University of Białystok
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.