创造力、酗酒与药物滥用：流行偶像吉姆·莫里森

Holm-Hadulla Rainer M, Bertolino Alina

Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany.

Psychopathology. 2014;47(3):167-73. doi: 10.1159/000354617. Epub 2013 Sep 18.

BACKGROUND

Alcohol and drug abuse is frequent among performers and pop musicians. Many of them hope that alcohol and drugs will enhance their creativity. Scientific studies are scarce and conclusions limited for methodological reasons. Furthermore, extraordinary creativity can hardly be grasped by empirical-statistical methods. Thus, ideographic studies are necessary to learn from extraordinarily creative persons about the relationship of creativity with alcohol and drugs. The pop icon Jim Morrison can serve as an exemplary case to investigate the interrelation between alcohol and drug abuse and creativity.

METHODS

Morrison's self-assessments in his works and letters as well as the descriptions by others are analyzed under the perspective of creativity research.

RESULTS

In the lyrics of Jim Morrison and in biographical descriptions, we can see how Jim Morrison tried to cope with traumatic events, depressive moods and uncontrolled impulses through creative activities. His talent, skill and motivation to write creatively were independent from taking alcohol and drugs. He used alcohol and drugs to transgress restrictive social norms, to broaden his perceptions and to reinforce his struggle for self-actualization. In short, his motivation to create something new and authentic was reinforced by alcohol and drugs. More important was the influence of a supportive group that enabled Morrison's talents to flourish. However, soon the frequent use of high doses of alcohol and drugs weakened his capacity to realize creative motivation.

CONCLUSIONS

Jim Morrison is an exemplary case showing that heavy drinking and the abuse of LSD, mescaline and amphetamines damages the capacity to realize creative motivation. Jim Morrison is typical of creative personalities like Amy Winehouse, Janis Joplin, Brian Jones and Jimmy Hendrix who burn their creativity in early adulthood through alcohol and drugs. We suppose that the sacrificial ritual of their decay offers some benefits for the excited spectators. One of these is the illusion that alcohol and drugs can lead to authenticity and creativity.

背景

表演者和流行音乐家中酗酒和滥用药物的现象很常见。他们中的许多人希望酒精和药物能增强他们的创造力。由于方法学原因，科学研究稀少且结论有限。此外，非凡的创造力很难用实证统计方法来把握。因此，有必要进行个案研究，以便从极具创造力的人身上了解创造力与酒精和药物之间的关系。流行偶像吉姆·莫里森可以作为一个典型案例，用以研究酗酒、滥用药物与创造力之间的相互关系。

方法

从创造力研究的角度分析莫里森在其作品和信件中的自我评价以及他人的描述。

结果

在吉姆·莫里森的歌词和传记描述中，我们可以看到他是如何通过创造性活动来应对创伤事件、抑郁情绪和无法控制的冲动的。他的创作天赋、技巧和动力与饮酒和吸毒无关。他利用酒精和药物来突破限制性的社会规范，拓宽自己的认知，并强化他自我实现的奋斗。简而言之，酒精和药物增强了他创造新的、真实事物的动力。更重要的是一个支持性群体的影响，这个群体使莫里森的才华得以展现。然而，很快，频繁大量饮酒和吸毒削弱了他实现创作动力的能力。

结论

吉姆·莫里森是一个典型案例，表明大量饮酒以及滥用迷幻药、麦司卡林和安非他明会损害实现创作动力的能力。吉姆·莫里森是像艾米·怀恩豪斯、詹尼斯·乔普林、布莱恩·琼斯和吉米·亨德里克斯这样的有创造力的人的典型代表，他们在成年早期因酒精和药物而耗尽了自己的创造力。我们认为，他们衰落的牺牲仪式给兴奋的观众带来了一些好处。其中之一就是酒精和药物能带来真实感和创造力的错觉。