H. J. Eysenck's Contribution to the Study and Analysis of Creativity

Professor H. J. Eysenck's contributions to scientific psychology are monumental. In particular, his theoretical and research efforts have significantly impacted the study of personality and individual differences. Introversion-extraversion and neuroticism are the most familiar of the three biologically based source traits or superfactors. More recently, Eysenck expanded his views on the third major personality dimension termed psychoticism and included it in the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire. One of the most interesting works-in-progress was the hypothesized links between psychoticism and creativity which are outlined in this paper. This work also serves to illustrate the creative genius of Professor Eysenck. We marvel at those individuals who are able to reach beyond the realms of normal accomplishments and give us not only extraordinarily good or excellent 'products', but who 'create ' something unique, novel, that has not existed before, whether an idea, a cure for a disease, a painting, or a musical score. It seems especially fitting in any tribute to Professor Hans Eysenck to consider his creative genius as a psychologist and his theoretical contributions to describing and understanding creativity and the creative process. Eysenck in many ways served as a model or prototype of the creative psychologist whose contributions spanned across almost all domains and areas of psychology at both the theoretical and applied levels. He was able to draw his ideas from an extensive knowledge not only of psychology but from physics and mathematics to history and art. The result was an extraordinary level of creative productivity. This is attested to in a curriculum vitae that includes numerous award