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ABSTRACT This study compared neurotic and depressive personality characteristics in creative achievers versus eminent but non‐creative achievers. Forty‐eight subjects' (25 men, 23 women) autobiographies were assessed by trained raters on personality using the California Q‐Set. Creative achievers included literary and visual artists whereas the control group consisted of political, military and social leaders. The Q‐Set ratings were used to assess the five factors of personality (neuroticism, extroversion, openness to experience, agreeableness and conscientiousness). Neuroticism was further divided into subscales that assessed depressive style, impulsivity and anxiety. Results showed that creative achievers were rated significantly higher than controls on general neuroticism, as well as on depressive style and impulsivity. Creative achievers did not differ from controls in anxiety. It was also found that creative achievers were rated significantly higher than controls on openness to experience and agreeableness, but lower on conscientiousness. None of the effects for creativity was affected by subjects' sex.
Walker et al. (Thu,) studied this question.