Analyzing Schizotypy and Its Impact on Creative Minds: A Critical Examination of David Nettle’s Article

This paper aims at analyzing an article of David Nettle. The analysis of the article will be

done in different sections wherein the first section is about the summary of the article, the

second section is about the strengths & weaknesses of the article and thethird section is about

linking the article with mental and consciousness.

1) Concisely describe the main arguments and evidence presented by the paper

The article by David Nettle focuses on the fact that the condition of schizotypy is common

among people who belong to literature such as poets, visual artists etc. As per (), Schizotypy

is a theory which states that there is a continuum of personality characteristics and

experiences (Mason, 2015). He has mentioned in the article that there is along history of

relations between creativity and mental illness. The author has supported these speculations

with strong evidencefrom the past. The first evidence is that biographical and survey studies

have found that there are high levels of psychopathology in people who belong to fields of

literature or arts. The condition of psychopathology includes thesituation of depression and

bipolar disorder. There have been many such pieces of evidence put forward by David Nettle

in the article. However, the author emphasizes that there are numerous questions which have

still been unanswered (Sklar & Sklar, 2012). One such question is that whether healthy

creative people have any milder relation with the schizotypal traits than the people who suffer

from psychopathology. Is it also possible that the healthy people have an equal relation with

schizotypal traits or not. The current research has, primarily, focussed on the artistic

creativity while the position of other creative domains is not yet clear. An experiment has

been carried out by the author wherein the schizotypy profiles of the large sample of poets,

artists, mathematicians, general population and psychiatric patients using O Life inventory.

During the experiment, it was found out that the high levels of unusual experiences are for

pets and artists instead of schizophrenia patients. These people have alow level of unusual

experience. Also, mathematicians have low control on unusual experience. As per the

observations, it can be suggested that people belonging from literature or arts share a high

tendency to unusual experiences while the creative groups can be differentiated by the

absence of anhedonia and avolition (Haan et al., 2015). Also, distinct domains of creativity

require distinct cognitive profiles. The poets and arts people are associated with divergent

thinking, schizophrenia, and affective disorder while the mathematicians are associated with

convergent thinking and autism. Overall, the article is an evidence of the fact that there is a

strong link between vulnerability to psychopathology and creative groups. The artistic people

possess an unusual though process which symbolizes mild and severe psychopathology. The

scores received by creative people are as high as the people suffering from schizophrenia. On

the other hand, the mathematicians possess an opposite pattern as they have alow level of

schizotypy. However, creative people have also shown flattened affect and a violation which

are absent in mathematicians (Szasz, 2008). Therefore, it is true that mathematicians and

engineers do not show unusual behavior than creative groups and artistic people.

2) Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the arguments and evidence presented

by the paper

The article by David Nettle has presented the fact that the artistic people possess an unusual

thought process which symbolizes mild and severe psychopathology and also the scores

received by the creative people are as high as the people suffering from schizophrenia. But

the mathematicians possess an opposite pattern as they have alow level of schizotypy. In the

article, the author has used a comprehensive questionnaire including O-Life schizotypy scales

(Waters & Stephane, 2014). The participants of the survey comprise of control participants,

visual artists,amathematician who have a long history of theserious mental disorder.

However, the author has not made any claim regarding the sample being representative of the

general population. Since the survey questionnaires were dropped through letters so there are

chances that many might not have considered them important to participate. The study was

also advertised on internet local events site for the same city. This was to facilitate people to

take part in the survey and record their responses. Thirdly, questionnaires were also given to

students attending residential schools in Psychology at Open University. The pack comprised

of a postage-paid envelope. This method of recording responses was, no doubt, quick and

easy but it involved few weaknesses also. Since thedoor to door handling of questionnaire

involved too much time and energy so the entire process seemed very time-consuming (Smith

& Haslam, 2012). Also, the questionnaires which were handed over to students were not very

appropriate since the students might not hand over them to their parents.

3) Summarize the ways in which the paper may contribute to a broad

understanding of the nature of human consciousness and mental health issues

This paper focuses on the fact that the condition of schizotypy is common among people who

belong to literature such as poets, visual artists etc. Also, there is along history of relations

between creativity and mental illness (Morey & Mueser, 2007). The experiment carried in the

study led to the conclusion that the creative groups also possess an unusual though process

which symbolizes mild and severe psychopathology. The scores received by creative people

are as high as the people suffering from schizophrenia. On the other hand, the mathematicians

possess an opposite pattern as they have alow level of schizotypy.

This clearly demonstrates that most people do suffer from some form of mental illness but

it’s critical to understand each group of psychopathology conditions. This makes it important

for the public to be educated regarding ways to deal with these psychopathology conditions,

patients may have some drawbacks or complications but also develop important skills (Jones-

Smith, 2013). David Nettle clearly discusses the different impressive skills the schizotypy

and schizophrenia patients develop but require certain working and interpersonal

relationships and boundaries to be developed.

Both conditions begin developing from a very young age and tend to re-enforce themselves in

the person's mind only to worsen over time. In many situations, the person suffering from the

condition will come to terms with their problems when it’s too late despite being warned by

people around them. While there may not be any way of determining or preventing the

progression of the psychopathology conditions, the patients will usually come to terms with

their conditions and thereafter seek medical care and treatment (Spaulding et al., 2003). This

is an important stage since this is a period when they feel confident in themselves, and now

they have the knowledge and capacity to undertake and perform a task independently. At this

time,theystill seek intervention and help but this also tends to be a critical period in their lives

since they are sensitive and need support.

In most situations they also tend to be attached to a person who is misusing this psychological

condition to their benefit and they will quickly retaliate to attempt making the individual

return under their dependency. In most situations spouses will be identified to misuse this

weakness to their advantage to misuse a person simply due to them being dependent on them

for support (Agrawal, 2013). It’s important for all people suffering from psychopathology

conditions to understand those closest to them could be their biggest enemies since they have

grown heavily dependent on them. This makes it critical that they avoid involving them to

their treatment plans and schedules unless they are very sure they offer proper support.

Schizotypy tends to be a condition where an individual gets confident in their ability after a

long time but this confidence and focus can be shattered in a matter of minutes.

A schizotypy patients focus may not be damaged by incidents that occur at work but more

likely to be triggered by a person they are close to. This makes taking certain steps very

important before seeking medical help and rehabilitation as these would help the person

retain focus on themselves. Taking steps like seeking employment and interacting with

people other than you close and trusted friend and partner are very important towards making

the transition (Mason & Claridge, 2015). While these psychopathology conditions cannot be

overcome or fully treated, rehabilitation can help deliver certain degrees of independence to

the individual and help build their confidence. While working and interacting with people

have been identified to be a major problem, patients suffering from most psychopathology

conditions tend to be exceptional performers at tasks they perform alone. This makes it

important for them to be guided intoperusing tasks where they mainly work on jobs

independently. This allows them to build confidence in their work and gradually grow more

dependent on their profession which is much more beneficial and less harmful to their

psychological state (Landy & Bradley, 2013).

Psychopathology conditions very, and while many people view patient as incompetent,

human conscious is deeper rooted (Beauchaine & Hinshaw, 2013). interactions with people

or societyand many will develop important unique skills linked to problem-solving. Many

patients suffering from psychopathology conditions develop a high level of intelligence

linked to certain areas of their interest. These skills and knowledgeshould then be exploited

by the responsible authorities to help the person grow independent. The patients tend to focus

extensive knowledge and abilities on this skill and fixate on the skills development. Most will

focus deeply on their skilldevelopment,and many people suffering from psychopathology

conditionseven findsolutions to very complex problems in their dreams (Garfield, 2005). This

is due to them placing considerable effort and focus towards their work and interests and this

can be used to help them reverse the problem during rehabilitation. Rehabilitation must be

limited and closely linked to their work, as this reduces the individual slipping backinto

dependency and hopelessness.

Psychopathology conditions have for a long time been misunderstood but recent technology

has helped identify a wide verity of conditions that most people suffer from without even

realizing they are sick. This makes it important for the public to be educated regarding

psychological conditions to help reduce the strain and pressure placed on people suffering

from acertain condition (Blaney & Millon, 2008). This results in them in being avoidant and

lacks confidence in themselvesregardless ofhaving lots of skill and abilities in the field.