A great many efforts have been made to study creativity from a psychoanalytic point of view. Most often in such studies, either the artistic product is subjected to analytic scrutiny or the life of the artist is examined analytically in an effort to explicate the conflicts and the psychopathology that gave rise to the work of art.

Often neglected in such studies is an examination of the total personality of the artist. This includes such matters as genetic endowment, unusual sensitivities and predilections that affect personality development and adaptation, and the unique fit that exists between character traits and the environment in which the future artist is raised. Frequently neglected, too, are the complex effects that artistic activity — and the cessation of such activity — have on the personality and the critical role often played by key figures who support the young person's artistic development. In not a few instances, input by such models