This article comprises: (a) a brief review of historical explanations for a relation between creative genius and psychopathology; (b) a discussion (in terms of research findings) of twentieth century views suggesting a positive relation, a negative relation, and no relation; (c) closer consideration (in terms of psychological theory and research) of possible causal relations — i.e. to the suggestions that creativity leads to psychopathology; that psychopathology leads to creativity, and that both derive from a common factor; and (d) a new explanation, suggesting that both creativity and psychopathology derive from distress, mediating factors being intellectual values and ability. Intellectual values and ability enable coping with the effects of distress through solitary intellectual activities, which afford palliation and develop the intellectual bases for productive creativity.
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