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The relationship of creativity to psychopathology is the central problem of Dr. Gershman's paper. The following propositions have been advanced:
Creativity is an attribute of man and all men are creative.
Creativity is not rooted in psychopathology; it emerges from man's need to relate to the world around him.
Creativity can be restricted and inhibited by psychopathological processes.
The great artist transcends his self and his neurotic conflicts to reach “something more encompassing and universal.”
Many great talents survive psychopathology; lesser talents are extinguished; “they drown in the morass of a neurotic web and self-destructiveness.”
Psychopathology is integrated into personality structure and therefore influences creativity.
The creative artist is more vulnerable to neurosis since he has a greater perceptual sensitivity than has the average person.
Sexuality and creativity are causally unrelated and represent and express differing aspects of personality and behavior.