Inebriation and Inspiration? A Review of the Research on Alcohol and Creativity

Abstract

There is a conception that a uniquely positive correlation prevails between the intake of alcohol and creativity, but only a few experimental studies address this subject. Existing studies together with recent experiments are reviewed. This later series of experiments explored whether or not moderate alcohol intoxication (1.0 ml of 100% alcohol/kg body weight) facilitated different phasesof the creative process, i.e. preparation, incubation, illumination, verification, and restitution. A hypothesis is derived which postulates that modest alcohol consumption inhibits aspects of creativity based mainly on the secondary process (preparation, certain parts of illumination, and verification), and disinhibits those based mainly on the primary process (incubation, certain parts of illumination, and restitution).

Why Isn't Creativity More Important to Educational Psychologists? Potentials, Pitfalls, and Future Directions in Creativity Research

“…For example, Norlander (1999), among many others, provided evidence that alcohol enhances some skills that may lead to creativity but hurts many others. Most important, these deficits appear most strikingly in secondary processes (e.g., preparation, communication).…”

The Virtuous Drinker: Character Virtues as Correlates and Moderators of College Student Drinking and Consequences

“…16 The latter 2 strengths have mixed influence on risky drinking. Alcohol use has been identified as an impediment in certain aspects of creativity, 17 yet creativity is still identified as a motive for drinking. 18–20 Novelty-seeking, or curiosity, is also considered a risk due to earlier initiation and more positive attitudes toward drinking.…”

Effects of alcohol and frustration on experimental graffiti

“…only men were included, and finally there was no distinction between graffiti containing destructive, aggressive, or sexually-charged components. Also, cre-ative components, such as ''elaboration'', may be considered since several investigations have demonstrated the influence of alcohol on creative expression (for reviews see Norlander, 1997;Norlander, 1998).…”