Skip to main content
Search
Search
    Quick Search anywhere
    Quick search in Citations
Advanced Search
Skip main navigationClose Drawer MenuOpen Drawer Menu
Previous article
Next article
Original Article

Creative Interests and Personality

Scientific Versus Artistic Creativity

Published Online:May 09, 2016https://doi.org/10.1026/0932-4089/a000211

Abstract

Abstract. The present study used intraindividual criterion profile analysis to investigate the relationship between creative artistic and investigative interests and the Big Five personality traits. In 19 samples, we found that artistic and investigative interests showed distinct intraindividual personality profile patterns. Investigative interests were associated with elevated openness to intellect, conscientiousness, and emotional stability and low extraversion and agreeableness, relative to individuals’ other traits. Artistic interests were associated with personal strengths for openness to experiences and personal weaknesses for conscientiousness, assertiveness, and emotional stability. Across creative interests, profile pattern, not absolute trait level, drove the relationship between personality traits and interests. These findings replicated across numerous personality inventories and levels of interest specificity (RIASEC, basic interests, occupation-specific interests). We discuss the implications of these results for the complementary use of personality and interest scales in vocational counseling and personnel selection.


Kreative Berufsinteressen und Persönlichkeit – Vergleich zwischen Wissenschaftlicher und Künstlerischer Kreativität

Zusammenfassung. Dieser Beitrag ergründet den Zusammenhang zwischen Interessen an kreativen Berufslaufbahnen (intellektuell-forschende und künstlerisch-sprachliche Orientierungen) und den Big Five Persönlichkeitsdimensionen mit Hilfe von intraindividueller Kriteriumsprofilanalyse. In 19 separaten Stichproben ergaben sich dabei diskrete Persönlichkeitsprofilmuster für intellektuell-forschende und künstlerisch-sprachliche Interessen. Erstere zeichnen sich im relativen Bezug auf andere Eigenschaften derselben Person durch erhöhte intellektuelle Offenheit, Gewissenhaftigkeit, und Emotionaler Stabilität aus, sowie durch geringere Extraversion und Verträglichkeit. Letztere hängen mit persönlichen Stärken in Offenheit für Erfahrungen und persönlichen Schwächen in Gewissenhaftigkeit, Bestimmtheit, und Emotionaler Stabilität zusammen. Für beide kreativen Interessensdimensionen gilt, dass Profilmuster, nicht absolute Eigenschaftswerte, das Verhältnis zwischen Persönlichkeitseigenschaften und Berufsinteressen bestimmen. Diese Ergebnisse wurden mit mehreren Interessensinventaren und auf allen Ebenen der Spezifität (RIASEC-Dimensionen, Basisinteressen, einzelne Berufe) repliziert. Die Studienfunde sind unmittelbar relevant für die gleichzeitige Nutzung von Persönlichkeits- und Interessenskalen in der Berufsberatung und Personalauswahl. Berufsinteressen können auf Grund ihrer Beziehung mit Motivation Arbeitsleistung vorhersagen; dies ist jedoch zum Teil durch ihre Verbindung zu charakteristischen Persönlichkeitseigenschaftsmustern begründet (z. B. stehen intellektuell-forschende Interessen mit Gewissenhaftigkeit in Verbindung). Wenn Mitarbeiter anhand von Interessen ausgewählt werden, werden also aufgrund der Konstruktüberlappungen automatisch andere erfolgsrelevante Merkmale ebenfalls mit berücksichtigt. Interessenskalen können Persönlichkeitsskalen komplementieren, indem sie Informationen über die generelle Problemlösestrategie von Individuen (z. B. analytisch, beeinflussend) beitragen. In Bezug auf die Berufsberatung zeigen die Ergebnisse die Notwendigkeit auf, das gesamte Spektrum individueller Eigenschaften zu erfassen, anstatt einzelne Eigenschaften, die einen absoluten Schwellenwert übersteigen. Berufsvorlieben werden von individuellen Wünschen bestimmt in Umgebungen zu arbeiten, die den natürlichen Gewohnheiten eines jeden Mitarbeiters entsprechen; die Ergebnisse dieser Studie zeigen, dass Individuen diese Wünsche identifizieren, indem sie die wesentlichen Merkmale ihrer Persönlichkeit in Betracht ziehen.

References

  • Akinola, M., & Mendes, W. B. (2008). The dark side of creativity: Biological vulnerability and negative emotions lead to greater artistic creativity. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 34, 1677 – 1686. http://doi.org/10/d45wr9 Crossref, Google Scholar

  • Barrick, M. R., Mount, M. K., & Gupta, R. (2003). Meta-analysis of the relationship between the five-factor model of personality and Holland’s occupational types. Personnel Psychology, 56, 45 – 74. http://doi.org/10/fjcf79 Crossref, Google Scholar

  • Barron, F., & Harrington, D. M. (1981). Creativity, intelligence, and personality. Annual Review of Psychology, 32, 439 – 476. http://doi.org/10/ch5c85 Crossref, Google Scholar

  • Campbell, D. P., Hyne, S. A., & Nilsen, D. L. (1992). Manual for the Campbell Interest and Skill Survey (CISS). Minneapolis, MN: NCS Pearson. Google Scholar

  • Committee on Prospering in the Global Economy of the 21st Century & Committee on Science, Engineering, and Public Policy [CPGE, & CSEPP] (2007). Rising above the gathering storm: Energizing and employing America for a brighter economic future. Washington, DC: National Academies Press. Google Scholar

  • Connelly, B. S., Ones, D. S., & Chernyshenko, O. S. (2014). Introducing the special section on openness to experience: Review of openness taxonomies, measurement, and nomological net. Journal of Personality Assessment, 96, 1 – 16. http://doi.org/10/33 f Crossref, Google Scholar

  • Davison, M. L., & Davenport, E. C. (2002). Identifying criterion-related patterns of predictor scores using multiple regression. Psychological Methods, 7, 468 – 484. http://doi.org/10/fkgdcw Crossref, Google Scholar

  • Dawes, R. M. (1979). The robust beauty of improper linear models in decision making. American Psychologist, 34, 571 – 582. http://doi.org/10/dd5xsk Crossref, Google Scholar

  • De Fruyt, F., & Mervielde, I. (1996). Personality and interests as predictors of educational streaming and achievement. European Journal of Personality, 10, 405 – 425. http://doi.org/10/bnx3d4 Crossref, Google Scholar

  • DeYoung, C. G. (2015). Cybernetic big five theory. Journal of Research in Personality, 56, 33 – 58. http://doi.org/10/33 h Crossref, Google Scholar

  • DeYoung, C. G., Quilty, L. C., & Peterson, J. B. (2007). Between facets and domains: 10 aspects of the Big Five. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 93, 880 – 896. http://doi.org/10/b4xsvz Crossref, Google Scholar

  • DeYoung, C. G., Quilty, L. C., Peterson, J. B., & Gray, J. R. (2014). Openness to experience, intellect, and cognitive ability. Journal of Personality Assessment, 96, 46 – 52. http://doi.org/10/33j Crossref, Google Scholar

  • Dilchert, S. (2007). Peaks and valleys: Predicting interests in leadership and managerial positions from personality profiles. International Journal of Selection and Assessment, 15, 317 – 334. http://doi.org/10/dhchdk Crossref, Google Scholar

  • Dilchert, S. (2008). Measurement and prediction of creativity at work (Doctoral dissertation). University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN. Retrieved from ProQuest, UMI Dissertations Publishing. (3504763) Google Scholar

  • Feist, G. J. (1998). A meta-analysis of personality in scientific and artistic creativity. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 2, 290 – 309. http://doi.org/10/fbsnm8 Crossref, Google Scholar

  • Feist, G. J. (1999). The influence of personality on artistic and scientific creativity. In Sternberg, R. J.Ed., Handbook of creativity (pp. 273 – 296). Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. Google Scholar

  • Gough, H. G. (1979). A creative personality scale for the Adjective Check List. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 37, 1398 – 1405. http://doi.org/10/csvdss Crossref, Google Scholar

  • Grucza, R. A., & Goldberg, L. R. (2007). The comparative validity of 11 modern personality inventories: Predictions of behavioral acts, informant reports, and clinical indicators. Journal of Personality Assessment, 89, 167 – 187. http://doi.org/10/b36mmg Crossref, Google Scholar

  • Guilford, J. P. (1950). Creativity. American Psychologist, 5, 444 – 454. http://doi.org/10/fxdfvn Crossref, Google Scholar

  • Hansen, J.-I. C., & Wiernik, B. M. (in press). Vocational interests, values, and preferences. In N. R. AndersonD. S. OnesH. K. SinangilC. ViswesvaranEds., Handbook of industrial, work and organizational psychology (Vol. 1, 2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. Google Scholar

  • Helson, R. (1996). In search of the creative personality. Creativity Research Journal, 9, 295 – 306. http://doi.org/10/d8rh67 Crossref, Google Scholar

  • Hogan, R. T., & Hogan, J. C. (1992). Hogan Personality Inventory manual (2nd ed.). Tulsa, OK: Hogan Assessment Systems. Google Scholar

  • Holland, J. L. (1961). Creative and academic performance among talented adolescents. Journal of Educational Psychology, 52, 136 – 147. http://doi.org/10/dmcqx4 Crossref, Google Scholar

  • Holland, J. L. (1973). Making vocational choices: A theory of careers (1st ed.). Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall. Google Scholar

  • Holland, J. L. (1997). Making vocational choices: A theory of vocational personalities and work environments (3rd ed.). Odessa, FL: Psychological Assessment Resources. Google Scholar

  • Holland, J. L. (1999). Why interest inventories are also personality inventories. In Savickas, M. L.Spokane, A. R.Eds., Vocational interests: Meaning, measurement, and counseling use (pp. 87 – 101). Palo Alto, CA: Davies-Black Publishing. Google Scholar

  • Hough, L. M., & Ones, D. S. (2001). The structure, measurement, validity, and use of personality variables in industrial, work, and organizational psychology. In N. AndersonD. S. OnesH. K. SinangilC. ViswesvaranEds., Handbook of industrial, work and organizational psychology (Vol. 1: Personnel psychology, pp. 233 – 277). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. http://doi.org/10/bc67 Google Scholar

  • Kaufman, S. B. (2013). Opening up openness to experience: A four-factor model and relations to creative achievement in the arts and sciences. The Journal of Creative Behavior, 47, 233 – 255. http://doi.org/10/33k Crossref, Google Scholar

  • Kaufman, S. B., Quilty, L. C., Grazioplene, R. G., Hirsh, J. B., Gray, J. R., Peterson, J. B., & DeYoung, C. G. (2014). Openness to experience and intellect differentially predict creative achievement in the arts and sciences. Journal of Personality, 84, 248 – 258. http://doi.org/10/33m Crossref, Google Scholar

  • King, N., & Anderson, N. (1995). Innovation and change in organizations. New York, NY: Routledge. Google Scholar

  • Kuhn, T. S. (2012). The structure of scientific revolutions (50th anniversary ed.). Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press. Crossref, Google Scholar

  • Kuncel, N. R., Klieger, D. M., Connelly, B. S., & Ones, D. S. (2013). Mechanical versus clinical data combination in selection and admissions decisions: A meta-analysis. Journal of Applied Psychology, 98, 1060 – 1072. http://doi.org/10/33p Crossref, Google Scholar

  • Larson, L. M., Rottinghaus, P. J., & Borgen, F. H. (2002). Meta-analyses of Big Six interests and Big Five personality factors. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 61, 217 – 239. http://doi.org/10/dwzpsn Crossref, Google Scholar

  • Lubinski, D. J., & Benbow, C. P. (2006). Study of mathematically precocious youth after 35 years: Uncovering antecedents for the development of math-science expertise. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 1, 316 – 345. http://doi.org/10/fv42sv Crossref, Google Scholar

  • Mayer, R. E. (1999). Fifty years of creativity research. In Sternberg, R. J.Ed., Handbook of creativity (pp. 449 – 460). Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. Google Scholar

  • May, M. A., & Hartshorne, H. (1926). Personality and character tests. Psychological Bulletin, 23, 395 – 411. http://doi.org/10/dc2hwm Crossref, Google Scholar

  • McCrae, R. R. (1987). Creativity, divergent thinking, and openness to experience. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 52, 1258 – 1265. http://doi.org/10/c7sgqb Crossref, Google Scholar

  • Miettinen, R. (2013). Innovation, human capabilities, and democracy: Towards an enabling welfare state. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. Crossref, Google Scholar

  • Nettle, D. (2006). Schizotypy and mental health amongst poets, visual artists, and mathematicians. Journal of Research in Personality, 40, 876 – 890. http://doi.org/10/bg7cww Crossref, Google Scholar

  • Nye, C. D., Su, R., Rounds, J. B., & Drasgow, F. (2012). Vocational interests and performance: A quantitative summary of over 60 years of research. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 7, 384 – 403. http://doi.org/10/33q Crossref, Google Scholar

  • Perrine, N. E., & Brodersen, R. M. (2005). Artistic and scientific creative behavior: Openness and the mediating role of interests. The Journal of Creative Behavior, 39, 217 – 236. http://doi.org/10/fxh4f3 Crossref, Google Scholar

  • Pryor, R. (1982). Values, preferences, needs, work ethics, and orientations to work: Toward a conceptual and empirical integration. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 20, 40 – 52. http://doi.org/10/d82x4x Crossref, Google Scholar

  • Runco, M. A., & Bahleda, M. D. (1986). Implicit theories of artistic, scientific, and everyday creativity. The Journal of Creative Behavior, 20, 93 – 98. http://doi.org/10/fx8xr3 Crossref, Google Scholar

  • Schmidt, F. L., & Hunter, J. E. (2014). Methods of meta-analysis: Correcting error and bias in research findings (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. Google Scholar

  • Simonton, D. K. (2003). Scientific creativity as constrained stochastic behavior: The integration of product, person, and process perspectives. Psychological Bulletin, 129, 475 – 494. http://doi.org/10/bwhgqs Crossref, Google Scholar

  • Simonton, D. K. (2014). Creative performance, expertise acquisition, individual differences, and developmental antecedents: An integrative research agenda. Intelligence, 45, 66 – 73. http://doi.org/10/33s Crossref, Google Scholar

  • Taylor, C. W., & Holland, J. (1964). Predictors of creative performance. In Taylor, C. W.Ed., Creativity: Progress and potential (pp. 15 – 48). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. Google Scholar

  • Torrance, E. P. (1988). The nature of creativity as manifest in its testing. In Sternberg, R. J.Ed., The nature of creativity (pp. 43 – 75). Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. Google Scholar

  • Van Iddekinge, C. H., Putka, D. J., & Campbell, J. P. (2011). Reconsidering vocational interests for personnel selection: The validity of an interest-based selection test in relation to job knowledge, job performance, and continuance intentions. Journal of Applied Psychology, 96, 13 – 33. http://doi.org/10/dgkjj6 Crossref, Google Scholar

  • Wiernik, B. M. (2015). Intraindividual personality profiles associated with Realistic interests. Journal of Career Assessment. Advance online publication. http://doi.org/10/bcz9 Google Scholar

  • Woo, S. E., Chernyshenko, O. S., Longley, A., Zhang, Z.-X., Chiu, C.-Y., & Stark, S. E. (2014). Openness to experience: Its lower level structure, measurement, and cross-cultural equivalence. Journal of Personality Assessment, 96, 29 – 45. http://doi.org/10/33v Crossref, Google Scholar