Creativity

Psychedelics can enhance creativity, but whether they do so by creating new ideas or revealing unconscious ones depends on the case. Some instances of psychedelic-induced creativity are genuinely novel (mind-creation), while others likely arise from revealing pre-existing unconscious ideas and processes (mind-revelation). The chapter reviews scientific evidence on human creativity and unconscious processes, arguing that both psychedelics and meditation can boost creativity by uncovering hidden mental content. Empirical evidence is assessed to determine how much it supports the revelation account over the creation account.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Abstract This chapter addresses another potential objection to the hypothesis that psychedelics reveal the mind: if psychedelics induce creativity and the generation of novel ideas, then this suggests that they are mind-creating, rather than mind-revealing. The chapter argues that while some cases of psychedelic-induced creativity are instances of mind-creation, other cases are likely due to mind-revelation. After reviewing the science of human creativity and related unconscious processes, the chapter argues that psychedelics (and meditation) can enhance creativity by revealing unconscious ideas and creative processes. The chapter also reviews the empirical evidence that meditation and psychedelics tend to enhance creativity and assesses to what extent this evidence indicates that they do so via the revelation of the mind.