Does Alcohol Really Unlock Creativity?
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Many famous creatives have struggled with alcohol addiction, so this is a big reason we believe alcohol enhances creativity. However, these authors, artists and musicians were creative despite all of their drinking and drug use, not because of it.
Does drinking alcohol make you more creative?
A 2017 study published in Consciousness and Cognition tested the effects of beer versus non-alcoholic beer on creativity. They found that having a small amount of alcohol impaired executive control but increased insight problem solving, which is like when you randomly have a really good idea or you randomly come up with a solution to something you’ve been thinking about for a while.
The researchers concluded that the negative effects on executive control were balanced by the positive effects on spontaneous processes. Both the alcohol and placebo group believed they were more creative, so the actual alcohol had nothing to do with it.
People generally believe that they are more creative when they drink alcohol, and the mind is very powerful. If you believe you’re more creative, then you’re going to be more creative. That’s it. It has nothing to do with the alcohol.
Learn more about the science of alcohol and creativity in episode 101
Gill discusses creativity and alcohol. Creativity is a balance between our logical side and our spontaneous side. Humanity’s ability to be creative is essential for our technological and cultural progression. A common belief is that alcohol unlocks creativity, so we’re going to explore that belief in this episode. You’ll learn what creativity is, what’s going on in the brain while we’re being creative, and what the research says about whether or not alcohol helps us be more creative. If you’ve found a burst of creativity in sobriety or are looking to become more creative then you will also learn 3 tips for cultivating creativity.
Sources
Benedek, M. et al. Creativity on tap? Effects of alcohol intoxication on creative cognition. Consciousness and Cognition. 56: 128-134. 2017.
Benedek, M. et al. Creativity on tap 2: Investigating dose effects of alcohol on cognitive control and creative cognition. Consciousness and Cognition. 83: 2020.
Rainer, M. et al. Creativity and psychopathology- an interdisciplinary view. Psychopathology. 2020.
RE Beaty, M Benedek, PJ Silvia, DL Schacter, Creative cognition and brain network dynamics. Trends Cogn Sci 20, 87–95 (2016).
Beaty, R. et al. Robust prediction of individual creative ability from brain functional connectivity. PNAS. 115(5) 1087-1092. 2018
Cite this episode
Tietz, G. Episode 101: Does Alcohol Really Unlock Creativity? Sober Powered. 2022.
