Janko Međedović

Should the space of basic personality traits be extended to include the disposition toward psychotic-like experiences?

Previous research has shown that there is a latent disposition toward psychotic-like experiences in the general population, labeled Schizotypy. However, there is a dispute over the conceptual status of Schizotypy: does it represent merely psychosis proneness, or is it a broad and general personality trait? If a disposition should be regarded as a personality trait, its scores should be distributed normally in the population and it must show irreducibility in regard to the previously discovered personality traits. In this research, these questions are addressed, using the construct of Disintegration as an operationalization of Schizotypy. The results show that although some modalities of Disintegration have skewed distributions in the student sample (N=345, 65% female), the global Disintegration scores have a normal distribution. Furthermore, Disintegration modalities constitute a latent component which is distinct from the personality traits that form HEXACO model of basic personality structure. Nevertheless, Disintegration shares some variance with the HEXACO traits, especially with the negative poles of Extraversion and Conscientiousness. The results are discussed in regard to a proposition of an extended, seven-factors model of basic personality structure.

Schizotypal traits in painters: Relations with intelligence, creativity and creative productivity

In the present research we explored the presence of schizotypal traits in painters. Furthermore, the relations of schizotypy and creativity-related variables (intelligence, creativity and creative productivity) were analyzed. Study participants were divided into the criterion (132 students of art academy and art high school) and control group (119 psychology students and members of grammar school). Two hypotheses were set: 1) schizotypal traits are more pronounced in painters than in control group; 2) schizotypy is more closely associated with the creativity-linked variables in the criterion than in control group. Schizotypy was operationalized by Disintegration construct and measured via DELTA 10 inventory. Intelligence was assessed by Advanced Progressive Matrices-18; creativity was measured by the same labeled scale from HEXACO-PI-R inventory and creative productivity was explored by a set of questions regarding the frequency of creative behavior. Results showed that Magical thinking, Enhanced awareness, Somatoform Dysregulation, Perceptual distortions and Social anhedonia were the schizotypal traits which were more pronounced in painters as compared to the control group. Factor analyses performed in each group separately revealed a latent component loaded both with schizotypal traits, creativity and creative productivity, but only in the group of painters: schizotypy and creativity were not so closely related in the control group. Thus, the study hypotheses were largely confirmed. Results provide a more detailed understanding of the relations between schizotypy and creativity.