Creative activity is valued by many, and those fortunate enough to have creative talent invariably derive considerable esteem from the process of creating. The ego systems referring to the identity sense (the self representation) and the ego ideal seem to be particularly instrumental in determining how one reacts to either creative activity, per se, or how much one values the act and subject of creativity.

The perceptual system of the creative scientist, in some instances, has a broader range of functioning than that of other people. Examples pertaining to the auditory and visual perceptual systems are given. In one instance, a scientist had what phenomenologically appeared to be auditory hallucinations, but the "voices" were benign and helped him solve the problem he was struggling with. In similar fashion, another scientist had the ability to conjure up clear visual pictures, eidetic images, which were also helpful.