An explanation of “Mad Scientist” syndrome — the downside of innovation

My mouth has gotten me into trouble more than a few times.  Don’t get me wrong — I’ve gotten a little bit better at keeping my mouth shut when no good can come from saying something.  However, I find myself to be at times impulsive, usually manifesting itself in some attempt to quickly improvise a comment on something in a way that is hopefully humorous and lighten the mood.  It’s almost like a game for me.  I enjoy improvisational comedy, and I like to think of solutions to problems on the fly.  I find a great thrill in connecting things that don’t necessarily connect, and I am always thinking about different ways to do things or how to improve an existing process or product.  It’s kind of fun to be creative, but at the same time, I can’t help but think I’m a little bit wacky or goofy.  I try to keep my silliness in check, but it’s a challenge.  I am getting better…Somewhat.

My question would be is there something, physiologically, that goes on in the minds of those who are creative or innovative?  In other words, is there something that their minds do differently than those who lack creativity or the ability to innovate?

I have found some resources that provided some answers, and surprisingly I have also found that innovation and creativity, when carried out to the extreme, may have negative effects, socially, upon that individual.  When we think of creative geniuses (important disclaimer — I am don’t fit into this category), we think of people like Mozart, Vincent Van Gogh, Isaac Newton, Albert Einstein, and Steve Jobs.  They were innovative and creative, and dramatically changed the world, but some “geniuses” were found to be considered “mad.”  Apparently there may be some link between creativity, innovation, and madness.  Great.

In the book titled, Your Brain and Business: The Neuroscience of Great Leaders, author Srinivasan S. Pillay describes the close link between innovation, creativity, and madness.  He states, “Thus, innovation and creativity require risk management — and it is fear of “madness” that often stands as a stalwart enemy of creativity because this attitude prevents creativity.”  Pillay suggests that the frontal lobe, which usually is slightly inhibited in “normal” individuals is a little “looser” on inhibition in the “creative” folk.

I look at it like this…You can probably recall one or more times when you thought something to yourself, but didn’t say it, because you realized it was inappropriate to say; you kept it to yourself, because your “inner filter” (which is located in the frontal lobe) told you it’s better to not say anything.  Well, this doesn’t work so well within me.  My filter is either broken or needs a change or something.  I talk too much and sometimes regret what came out.  With less inhibition of the frontal lobe, creative thoughts are apt to flow more freely.  This free flow of creative thoughts with little inhibition can also connect usually “unconnected” sections of the brain to assimilate a unified thought.  The upside is that the creative and innovative individual can see connections where others can’t; the downside is they may have personal and social difficulties as a result of this slightly dysfunctional mind.

So now I am thinking that I am slightly dysfunctional.  I keep reading…I find an article about the “Top 5 Mad Geniuses (http://curiosity.discovery.com/topic/perception/mad-genius.htm).  The article reads, ” It turns out some of the world’s greatest geniuses were quite mad. In fact, some scientis­ts claim that a far greater percentage of creative types (poets, painters, musicians and the like) have been afflicted with bipolar disorder than the general ­population. Some of the world’s most renowned creative minds, including writers Mary Shelley, Virginia Woolf, and Ernest Hemingway; composers Irving Berlin and Sergey Rachmaninoff; and painters Paul Gauguin and Jackson Pollock are all believed to have suffered from the illness.”  The article then goes on to outline how some of history’s greatest geniuses may have suffered from a host of mental illnesses.  This isn’t promising.

I keep reading for more.  I find another brief article, “Personalities of Creative People,” written by Gary A. Davis, PhD (http://www.winstonbrill.com/bril001/html/article_index/articles/1-50/article34_body.html).  Davis writes this about creative people: “They can be stubborn, uncooperative, indifferent to conventions and courtesies, and they are likely to argue that the rest of the parade is out of step. Creative people can be careless and disorganized, especially with matters they consider trivial. Absentmindedness and forgetfulness are common.  Some are temperamental and moody; a few cynical, sarcastic, or rebellious.”  Okay, I’m thinking, that describes me — stubborn, uncooperative, extremely sarcastic, sometimes oblivious to social conventions, somewhat disorganized in certain settings, and on and on.  I’m looking to see if  “impatient” showed up on this list, because that’s me too.  I am just a peach.  My wife sounds wiser and wiser by the minute…Did she pay him to write this article?

Fortunately, Davis also pointed out some “positives” of being creative.  He writes that creative people have the “ability to visualize, imagine, and make mental transformations.  A creative person looks at one thing, and sees modifications, new combinations, or new applications.”  He also wrote, “One particularly common trait of creative people is enthusiasm. The phrases ‘driving absorption,’ ‘high commitment,’ ‘passionate interest,’ and ‘unwilling to give up’ describe most creative people. The high energy also appears in adventurous and thrill-seeking activities…Curiosity and wide interests are related traits, whether the creative person is a research scientist, entrepreneur, artist, or professional entertainer. A good sense of humor is common. Creative people tend to have a childlike sense of wonder and intrigue, and an experimental nature. They may take things apart to see how they work, explore old attics or odd museums, or explore unusual hobbies and collections. In other words, ‘the creative adult is essentially a perpetual child—the tragedy is that most of us grow up.’  I can definitely relate to many of these observations.  It’s like he knows me.  My wife is right — I have the mind of a two year old.  At least she’s not a liar.

So it appears, that while I am stuck in perpetual childhood, I can enjoy the fruits of being creative.  Fortunately, I don’t believe I belong in the category of the “creative genius,” so perhaps I can’t be classified in the category of the “mad scientist,” or “mad genius.”  I have a professional career to maintain and a family to take care of, so I can’t give in to my inner madness too much.  I can live, I suppose, with just being a little silly with my daughters and goofy with my wife and friends.  After all, that’s really who I am.  Creative, quirky, silly, and goofy.

And I wouldn’t have it any other way!

Photo source: freedigitalphotos.net