© Unknown
A new study in the Journal of Personality and Individual Differences found adults with ADHD enjoyed more creative achievement than those who didn't have the disorder.
"For the same reason that ADHD might create problems, like distraction, it can also allow an openness to new ideas," says Holly White, assistant professor of cognitive psychology at Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida and co-author of the paper. "Not being completely focused on a task lets the mind make associations that might not have happened otherwise."
White and Priti Shah at the University of Michigan gave 60 college students - half of them with ADHD - a series of tests measuring creativity across 10 domains. The ADHD group scored higher across the board. The ADHD group showed more of a preference for brainstorming and generating ideas than the non-ADHD group, which preferred refining and clarifying ideas.
The study is a follow-up to one done in 2006, which focused on laboratory measures of creativity and found that ADHD individuals show better performance on tests of creative divergent thinking. "We didn't know if that would translate into real-life achievement," says Shah. "The current study suggests that it does."
as a neuropsychologist who evaluates a lot of ADHD kids, and who is, himself, ADD, I can attest to the divergent thinking aspect. In addition, several good books on ADHD discuss similar issues in detail. Personally I am glad I am not a 'bean counter'.. excuse me, 'refiner'.......... There are good reasons to have at least those two general categories and the more fine tuned differences. I have generally regarded ADHD medications as somewhat necessary for some folks.... (but battle with my doubts) in all candor, experiences with moderate use of speed (which is very similar to the ADHD meds) back in the 60's and until '72 or '73 when it became a scheduled narcotic and illegal if not prescribed, taught me what it was like to actually focus in detail. Luckily I learned how to do that when necessary (without any enhancement) and that permitted me to obtain the degree in philosophy as well the psych stuff. But I have my greatest fun when I just look at a lot of things on the net and kinda just toss them about or, for example, when I tackle fun hands' on sorts of things like all the various tasks involved in restoring a Healey or a bathroom. Though am known to have about ten different projects going on simultaneously......
Lots of things provide lots of fun.