Psychological Effects of Creative Work

Creative work can have both positive and negative effects on a person's psyche. People who seek to do creative work find positive results psychologically when they complete creative tasks. Creativity also is used as a method for therapy to treat mental illness and can help therapists engage with their clients. Although creative work is generally positive, highly creative people are more likely to suffer from mental illness than the average person.

Motivation

• People are more motivated to work on a task when they have at least some creative control over that task. This is referred to as intrinsic motivation, which means that a person has more motivation when performing a task for personal fulfillment versus performing a task for a reward or external evaluation. Since people are more motivated by internal reasoning, they are more likely to succeed when given creative authorization over a task or project.

Personal Satisfaction or Self- Esteem

• People derive more satisfaction from work that they find most enjoyable to perform. People who perform creative work are happier in their careers and are not driven by money or fame, rather they are driven by an internal satisfaction. Creative work can give a person more personal satisfaction and enhance their self-esteem than work that allows the person little to no creative involvement. When an individual creates something unique, it gives them a sense of pride and accomplishment.

Therapy

• Art has been used as a therapeutic tool in psychology, and it aids people in expressing their emotions. Play therapy is common in child psychology and uses art as a tool to engage a child on a therapeutic level. Through creativity, therapists are able to get a better idea of the child's life experiences and emotions. In adults, creativity can be used as a way to express their inner emotions and to relieve stress.

Mental Illness

• Artists have higher rates of mental illness than the average person. Simultaneously, people with mental illnesses, such as mood disorders, are more likely to be creative. The "Sylvia Plath Effect" was introduced by James Kaufman, Ph.D., of California State University, which described his findings that poets had a high incidence of mental illness. His study highlighted the correlation between mental illness and highly creative individuals.