In this study, we investigate how our participants grapple with the inherent uncertainty of a visual hybrid, when presented as a sequential presentation of degraded and brief images. We argue that this uncertainty should lead to readily observable anxiety. A total of 44 students participated in this microgenetic study, employing 4 visual hybrids, each presented as a series of 14 blurred images. Of these hybrids, wolf-man and man-ostrich, comprise half-human/half-animal images that were rated as eliciting anxiety in a pretest. Our use of a microgenetic technique highlighted the fact that the participant’s response to a visual hybrid is predominantly to first report the half-man component, and only after a rather long period of time to report the other component. We analyze elicited anxiety in both the verbal protocol and in its expression in the behavior of the participant during the experiment, as well as via a standard questionnaire. Visual hybrids elicit an emotional response, seen in both verbal report and the participant’s behavior during the session.

Our participants observed a series of degraded images of two artworks using a microgenetic method. What would be an observer’s response to a visual image depicting an act of violence? While the microgenetic method was expected to elicit aggressive ideation, two competing hypotheses were considered: (a) more aggressive content in the verbal reports, or (b) less aggressive content in the verbal reports. Both hypotheses are supported by our data. For individuals suffering from mental disorders, having a history of aggression, we report a low level of ideational fluency and a high level of aggressive ideation; for creative individuals who study or work in creative fields (e.g., music, painting, and sculpting), with no psychiatric history, we report a high level of ideational fluency and a low level of aggressive ideation. Furthermore, these two groups score high on absorption, suggesting an absorption-aggression-creativity linkage.

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IntroductionA study, examined creativity and aggression in individuals suffering from mental disorders, will present.ObjectivesFive groups: individuals suffering from mental disorders – with or without a history of aggression; creative individuals; aggressive individuals; and a control groupMethodsDifferent personality questionnaires: anxiety, absorption, schizotypy and humor and the microgenetic method – a projection technique, using visual stimulation by means of a computerized experiment. The stimuli that were presented in this study were two artworks. They were presented in a blurry manner that became clearer and the exposure time became longer.Results An emotional process aroused, when exposed to the stimuli. The stimuli had an influence on the subject’s internal world, which was reflected back in the verbal reports, especially the aspects of creativity and aggression. Secondly, the pathological groups were the lowest in the expression of creativity. However, they expressed more aggressive expression than expected while exposed to the stimuli. Moreover, these groups were ranked high, in traits related to creativity, such as schizotypy, absorption and the P dimension.ConclusionsThe Microgenetic-method gave a better perspective of the participant’s personality and can be used as a diagnostic-tool. In addition, the research demonstrates that creativity and aggression are multi-dimensional traits and are noticeably present in the pathological groups. Therefore, a person coping with psychopathology should get assistance with controlling the expression of his urges. They should be directed towards a creative expression of their inner-world, allowing a full range of expression of his strengths and pains. This will sublimate the feelings of aggression.DisclosureNo significant relationships.

Stimulus I ("murder")-"Judith slaying Holofernes"\ Artemisia Gentilescho Stimulus II ("face") -"Potrait of the poet Kleist"\ Andre Masson Aggression General score of humor style questionnaire, especially the score of aggressive humor scale Aggression level according to aggressive questionnaire Aggression levelaccording to the transcripts of the participants Psychotisicim (P) Creativity levelaccording to the transcripts of the participants Humor style questionnaire Caricatures grade Absorption Schizotypy Creativity Research assumptions: A. Stimulus I will stimulate the participants in a different way compare to stimulus II.B. A correlation will be found between the various variables of creativity and between the various variables of aggression.C. Creativity and aggression are both attached to Psychoticism (P) dimension. Connection between creativity and aggression will be found and differences between the 5 groups in those traits will be found. D.Differences in personality profiles of the different research groups will be found, especially based on the personality dimensions of Eysenck:1) Mental illness -high on P and N scales, and on schizotypy questionnaire. low at E.2) Mental illness (aggressive)compare to mental illness without an aggressive past behavior: higher on P and N scales and on