> would Torvalds be Torvalds if he was treated before? Is the same piece of his personality that made him a truly unpleasant person also the one that made him

> would Torvalds be Torvalds if he was treated before? Is the same piece of his personality that made him a truly unpleasant person also the one that made him super motivated? This is a common trope in psychology known as the "ideology of creativity." According to the overwhelming body of research, the answer is "yes, he would still be Torvalds, and no, the same piece of his personality that makes him an unpleasant person is not also responsible for making him super motivated/successful/etc." Success and intelligence are oftentimes cited as reasons to excuse bad behavior, but the evidence is clearly against that.