On this podcast we love creativity and want to encourage it - but is there a dark side to creativity? In this episode we explore the basis for the “tortured genius” tropes, as well as what happens when someone uses their power of creativity for...not so good outcomes.
SHOW NOTES:
Articles on ‘the Dark Side’ of Creativity
Gino F, Wiltermuth SS. Evil Genius? How Dishonesty Can Lead to Greater Creativity. Psychological Science. 2014;25(4):973-981. doi:10.1177/0956797614520714
Harvard Business Review “The Dark Side of Creativity”: https://hbr.org/2015/11/the-dark-side-of-creativity
The Guardian “Are you an evil genius? How dishonesty can make you more creative”: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/feb/03/are-you-an-evil-genius-how-dishonesty-can-make-you-more-creative
Jonason, P. K., Richardson, E. N., & Potter, L. (2015). Self-reported creative ability and the Dark Triad traits: An exploratory study. Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts, 9(4), 488–494. https://doi.org/10.1037/aca0000037
Akinola M, Mendes WB. The Dark Side of Creativity: Biological Vulnerability and Negative Emotions Lead to Greater Artistic Creativity. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin. 2008;34(12):1677-1686. doi:10.1177/0146167208323933
Sources for news and examples
Business Insider “The Rise and Fall of Elizabeth Holmes”: https://www.businessinsider.com/theranos-founder-ceo-elizabeth-holmes-life-story-bio-2018-4?r=US&IR=T#theranos-quickly-began-securing-outside-partnerships-capital-blue-cross-and-cleveland-clinic-signed-on-to-offer-theranos-tests-to-their-patients-and-walgreens-made-a-deal-to-open-theranos-testing-centers-in-their-stores-theranos-also-formed-a-secret-partnership-with-safeway-worth-350-million-25
Bloomberg “The Blood Unicorn Theranos was just a Fairytale” https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2018-03-14/theranos-misled-investors-and-consumers-who-used-its-blood-test
Tech Crunch “Bodega, once dubbed ‘America’s most hated start up’ has quietly raised millions” https://techcrunch.com/2019/09/25/bodega-once-dubbed-americas-most-hated-startup-has-quietly-raised-millions/
Wolf, Martin (June 23, 2009). "Reform of Regulation and Incentives". Financial Times.