Artists Share Personality Traits With Psychopaths

Singers, painters, actors, dancers... everyone share personality traits with psychopaths according to what an investigation affirms. It is true that much has been said about the personalities of artists, who are usually very much in touch with their emotions and who, according to assure some psychologists and psychiatrists, they are more likely to suffer emotional instability and even other problems psychological.

But… what is true in this? In the following lines we will delve into some of these issues and seek scientific answers to these facts.

• Related article: "Psychopathy: what happens in the mind of the psychopath?"

Artists and psychopaths share personality traits

Some research yields surprising and incredible results. One of them claims that psychopaths and artists share personality traits. This study was published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences, and was carried out by Adrianne John Galang, a psychologist at De La Salle University in Manila (Philippines).

According to the Daily Mail, the artists

tend to have higher levels of emotional disinhibition, and are more prone to dishonesty and risk taking.

Emotional disinhibition is the daring or risk-taking that psychopaths possess. That is, it is a characteristic of the personality that makes them not care about the consequences of their actions. As Galang explains, "creative people and artists also have this personality trait."

The research director also states that “the results show that artists tend to be more dishonest and arrogant people. Apparently, it would be the competitive environment in which they find themselves involved that could shape their personality”.

However, other authors affirm that the success of an artist is related to your level of narcissism. This is what the results of a study conducted by a finance professor named Yi Zhou indicate. The study was published in the European Journal of Finance. Narcissism is also a personality trait displayed by psychopaths.

Artists and narcissism

The truth is not all artists have the same concerns and motivations. For example, let's imagine a painter who is going to live in the countryside to be able to feel fulfilled looking for the tranquility and inspiration of a place that allows him to get in touch with himself. But let us also imagine the dancer or the actor who travels to London or Los Angeles in search of the spotlight and the attention, in Search for that role or job that makes you shine, that makes you a star and that, once and for all, values ​​your work of him

As Yi Zhou explains, "to succeed in show business, you need to have this type of personality, the narcissist." In this sense, a study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, carried out by Mitja Back, from the University of Münster, identifies two dimensions of narcissism: the search for admiration and rivalry. Both are traits that are very present in artists, and that affect their body language, their own personality and, furthermore, the health of personal relationships.

Fortunately, the artists do not seem to share the attitudes of psychopaths towards cruelty, although the results of the aforementioned research seem to explain the stereotype of the arrogant artist or narcissistic musician.

• Related article: "The 3 differences between narcissism and egocentrism"

The artists and the Dark Triad theory

Some research has also found connections between artists and the Dark Triad personality (more information in this article by Bertrand Regader). These individuals, who are really attractive, are characterized by having the following personality traits.

• Narcissism: They are people who constantly want to be the focus of attention, so they are always looking to please others and tend to manipulate other people.
• Machiavellianism: They are individuals who seek fame, power and wealth, and also manipulate others to achieve that goal. They seek their own benefit regardless of the common welfare.
• Psychopathy: They tend to impulsiveness, antisocial behaviors, manipulation of others and the constant search for strong emotions.

Therefore, there are several studies that seem to indicate that there are certain personality traits that psychopaths and artists share. However, it cannot be said that artists are psychopaths or that psychopaths are artists. In fact, in the articles “Psychological profile of a psychopath, in 12 unmistakable traits" and "The 7 personality traits of creative people” these topics can be read more in depth.

How are creative people?

Creativity is undoubtedly one of the qualities that artists possess, and there are many investigations that have tried to find out what characteristics the personality of these individuals presents. One of the best known is the study carried out by Oyvind Lund Martinsen, a professor at the Norwegian Business School (BI). According to this, creative people have:

• connective intelligence: They are imaginative, playful and their mind is rich in ideas. They show commitment. They live in their own reality, which is sometimes close to fiction.
• need for originality: they do not follow the rules or social impositions. They tend to be rebellious.
• Motivation: They seek to improve themselves and face difficult tasks that stimulate them. They have an innovative, goal-oriented attitude.
• Creative people feel the need to tackle difficult tasks.Goal-oriented, with an innovative attitude.
• AmbitionThey seek attention and influence others. They want recognition.
• Flexibility: They are original and see different solutions to problems.
• low sociability: They are considered inconsiderate and stubborn people.
• low emotional stabilityThey easily experience negative emotions and have fluctuating moods. Their self-esteem is often affected.

Psychological problems in artists

Regarding this last point, there are investigations that show that approximately 40% of artists suffer from psychological problems amenable to treatment.

Art usually occurs in more labile and fragile individuals in spirit. They are people who live their emotions intensely and perceive the environment in a much more intense way. This trend makes them artists and people capable of making true works of art, but also subjects more susceptible to mental disorders.