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marfknox
SFN Die Hard
USA
3739 Posts |
 Posted - 10/10/2011 : 20:37:04
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I've long thought of ADD and ADHD as not just disorders with many disadvantages, but in some respects, differences with some advantages. So I was excited to read this paper today that seems to confirm my suspicions.
| Research suggests that di#64256;erent types of creative thinkers may excel at di#64256;erent types of problem-solving (e.g., Finke, 1996; Zhang, 2002). For example, Finke (1996) describes ‘‘chaotic thinkers’’ as individuals who have an unstructured, spontaneous cognitive style (‘‘chaotic cognition’’) that tends to result in original creative products (Finke, 1996). This divergent thinking style may facilitate insight thinking, or ‘‘thinking outside the box’’. In contrast, an individual with a convergent thinking style may be better able to adapt old concepts to new situations (Finke, 1996). Thus, di#64256;erent creative styles may be suited to di#64256;erent challenges. Indeed, research suggests that assessments of individual di#64256;erences in creative styles may be useful to match tasks and workers (Brophy, 2001). Similarly, perhaps an understanding of ADHD-related creative differences may be useful to identify niches for adults with ADHD-outlets for ‘‘chaotic cognition’’(Finke, 1996). Thus, one potential application of this research is to match adults with ADHD to a career that will maximize ADHD-related creative potential |
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"Too much certainty and clarity could lead to cruel intolerance" -Karen Armstrong
Check out my art store: http://www.marfknox.etsy.com
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Valiant Dancer
Forum Goalie
USA
4826 Posts |
Posted - 10/11/2011 : 06:59:41 [Permalink]
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Technically, I could be termed as ADD.
My parents took me to a specialist in first grade. That specialist told my parents that he could help me concentrate but I would never graduate high school and would likely not be able to hold a job for long because I would become bored with it.
My mother refused to accept that. I graduated college and am now just one week away from finishing my Masters program.
Creativity exists within me. I write short stories on occassion and bad poetry. I also am a computer programmer and can find root causes of problems through how the programs act. If I have seen the source code for a different project, I can oftentimes recall the conditions that will make something behave in a certian manner.
I was not easy. There were many concentration exercises that I had to do. And it took me years to be able to focus even close to what normal kids could. It did pay off in the end, though. |
Cthulhu/Asmodeus when you're tired of voting for the lesser of two evils
Brother Cutlass of Reasoned Discussion |
| Edited by - Valiant Dancer on 10/11/2011 07:00:11 |
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marfknox
SFN Die Hard
USA
3739 Posts |
Posted - 10/11/2011 : 10:23:47 [Permalink]
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| Val, much of my interest and opinions on this topic come from having many close loved-ones with ADD and ADHD and having taught a couple of amazing students with ADHD. I don't have it myself, but it runs in my family and while my daughter shows no early symptoms, it is quite possible my next child could have it. The adults in my life with the disorder have clearly dealt with additional hurtles, but they are all still quite successful and satisfied with their interpersonal relationships and careers. They've simply developed mechanisms for dealing with it and/or medications that worked for them. Successful manangement seems to vary a lot from person to person. Lots of people unfamiliar with the specifics of ADD think that people with it are just distracted all the time. They don't know about hyperfocus, where a person with ADD gets so absorbed with a task that they have difficulty tearing themselves away. I've seen that be a huge benefit in just the right context for certain people. A possible advantage with creativity never occurred to me, but now I realize that most of my relatives with the disorder now have careers in the arts. And those with careers not in the arts definitely seem more creative than average and do fun, weird thing for themselves and their friends with that impulse. Thankfully there is a lot of research into ADD and ADHD and many effective treatment and management approaches for both parents and adults with the disorder. |
"Too much certainty and clarity could lead to cruel intolerance" -Karen Armstrong
Check out my art store: http://www.marfknox.etsy.com
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justintime
BANNED
382 Posts |
Posted - 10/21/2011 : 16:53:36 [Permalink]
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Originally posted by marfknox
I've long thought of ADD and ADHD as not just disorders with many disadvantages, but in some respects, differences with some advantages. So I was excited to read this paper today that seems to confirm my suspicions.
| Research suggests that di#64256;erent types of creative thinkers may excel at di#64256;erent types of problem-solving (e.g., Finke, 1996; Zhang, 2002). For example, Finke (1996) describes ‘‘chaotic thinkers’’ as individuals who have an unstructured, spontaneous cognitive style (‘‘chaotic cognition’’) that tends to result in original creative products (Finke, 1996). This divergent thinking style may facilitate insight thinking, or ‘‘thinking outside the box’’. In contrast, an individual with a convergent thinking style may be better able to adapt old concepts to new situations (Finke, 1996). Thus, di#64256;erent creative styles may be suited to di#64256;erent challenges. Indeed, research suggests that assessments of individual di#64256;erences in creative styles may be useful to match tasks and workers (Brophy, 2001). Similarly, perhaps an understanding of ADHD-related creative differences may be useful to identify niches for adults with ADHD-outlets for ‘‘chaotic cognition’’(Finke, 1996). Thus, one potential application of this research is to match adults with ADHD to a career that will maximize ADHD-related creative potential |
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What the article is telling you is to basically back off from premature judgment because ADHD patients are not necessarily limited by cognitive spontaneity. |
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the happy body
New Member
1 Post |
Posted - 04/02/2012 : 07:27:40 [Permalink]
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| in a world where kids are given drugs to calm them down, i am proud to be considered ADHD |
http://www.thehappybody.ca |
| Edited by - the happy body on 04/02/2012 07:29:33 |
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Hal
Skeptic Friend
USA
302 Posts |
Posted - 04/02/2012 : 08:41:45 [Permalink]
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Originally posted by the happy body
in a world where kids are given drugs to calm them down, i am proud to be considered ADHD
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I don't have any experience with the hyperactivity component of this disorder, but as the term "ADHD" implies, there are a range of symptoms. As an adult, I was diagnosed and (briefly) medicated for ADD. In my own case, that treatment had nothing at all to do with "calming me down." On the contrary - it acted as a stimulant that allowed me to initiate and sustain complex thought processes. Basically, it woke me up, and helped me to stay awake. Fortunately, my brief medication experience provided enough of a "kick start" to help restore my self-confidence, and I'm getting along just fine without it now.
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| Edited by - Hal on 04/02/2012 08:42:13 |
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dcastle
New Member
6 Posts |
Posted - 04/02/2012 : 16:52:48 [Permalink]
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It has been known that people who develop some sort of "abnormality" would gain something on another end. In most of the cases I have seen, they are either musically inclined or really gifted with any form of art.
I think that is just great as they have something to focus on and probably get grips with it. Though it would be quite hard to determine if one really has ADD/ADHD and in some cases, they just go about without being noticed. |
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Creativity: One Possible Advantage of ADHD
