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Doesn't this go against the concept of flow http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flow_(psychology) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flow_(psychology)?

nostrademons 16y ago
Flow != creativity. A flow state is an immersion in the task at hand, where your self-consciousness melts away and you just get it done. Creativity doesn't necessarily involve that same sort of ego death, and involves dreaming of things, not necessarily accomplishing them.
ardit33 16y ago
no it doesn't. 'Flow' works well when you already know what are you going to do, and that particular task is not too easy, but not too hard (something that doesn't require your maximum cognitive effort). The article is talking about on how to start tacking solving problems. People that are easily distracted seem to come up with more creative solutions. Which makes sense. Also, the studies cited have a selection bias. They studied very smart college students (at Harvard), which means these kids, even though had attention problems, they were successful enough to get there, which means they are high functioning ADD/ADHD. (they manage to get some productivity out of them. And the extra creativity gives them an edge). The article also mentions that they didn't measure all those kids with ADD/ADHD that were never able to finish high school, or get into college. ADD/ADHD can be crippling, but for very smart people that manage it (or find way to become productive), it might be actually be beneficial to their creativity and give them and edge. One comment that you hear from people that start taking Ritalin due to adult ADD, is that while they are a lot less distract-able and are able to perform and complete a lot more tasks, they feel less creative, and more a bit like robots.
- Loginid 16y ago
  >>ADD/ADHD can be crippling, but for very smart people that manage it (or find way to become productive), it might be actually be beneficial to their creativity and give them and edge. I am adult that has been recently diagnosed with ADD, and have to say that the comparative problem solving and creativity advantage has been apparent all of my life (not just to me :) ). >>One comment that you hear from people that start taking Ritalin due to adult ADD, is that while they are a lot less distract-able and are able to perform and complete a lot more tasks, they feel less creative, and more a bit like robots. I was afraid that this would happen to me, but thankfully that hasn't been my experience. I'm hardly a robot, and really just as prone to distraction. I am, however, better able to modulate my attention. On the drugs, I can choose what I pay attention to so that distractions are less of a problem.

nostrademons 16y ago

Flow != creativity. A flow state is an immersion in the task at hand, where your self-consciousness melts away and you just get it done. Creativity doesn't necessarily involve that same sort of ego death, and involves dreaming of things, not necessarily accomplishing them.

ardit33 16y ago

no it doesn't. 'Flow' works well when you already know what are you going to do, and that particular task is not too easy, but not too hard (something that doesn't require your maximum cognitive effort). The article is talking about on how to start tacking solving problems. People that are easily distracted seem to come up with more creative solutions. Which makes sense. Also, the studies cited have a selection bias. They studied very smart college students (at Harvard), which means these kids, even though had attention problems, they were successful enough to get there, which means they are high functioning ADD/ADHD. (they manage to get some productivity out of them. And the extra creativity gives them an edge). The article also mentions that they didn't measure all those kids with ADD/ADHD that were never able to finish high school, or get into college. ADD/ADHD can be crippling, but for very smart people that manage it (or find way to become productive), it might be actually be beneficial to their creativity and give them and edge. One comment that you hear from people that start taking Ritalin due to adult ADD, is that while they are a lot less distract-able and are able to perform and complete a lot more tasks, they feel less creative, and more a bit like robots.

Loginid 16y ago
>>ADD/ADHD can be crippling, but for very smart people that manage it (or find way to become productive), it might be actually be beneficial to their creativity and give them and edge. I am adult that has been recently diagnosed with ADD, and have to say that the comparative problem solving and creativity advantage has been apparent all of my life (not just to me :) ). >>One comment that you hear from people that start taking Ritalin due to adult ADD, is that while they are a lot less distract-able and are able to perform and complete a lot more tasks, they feel less creative, and more a bit like robots. I was afraid that this would happen to me, but thankfully that hasn't been my experience. I'm hardly a robot, and really just as prone to distraction. I am, however, better able to modulate my attention. On the drugs, I can choose what I pay attention to so that distractions are less of a problem.