By: Zahavit Paz
Contrary to popular belief, ADHD people do not lack motivation. When a challenge interests them, they become very productive and enjoy discovering non-traditional approaches.
This is because they tend to be creative problem solvers. This characteristic often shines in stressful situations in which they need to think quickly and ‘outside the box’ — not within the traditional norms. Because they are not linear thinkers, they often take an unconstrained attitude that frees them from the influence of others’ knowledge.
According to one study:
“…Adults with ADHD showed higher levels of original creative thinking on the verbal task of the ATTA and higher levels of real-world creative thinking skills achievement, compared to children and adults without ADHD”
And according to another study:
“ADHD individuals outperformed non-ADHD individuals on the Unusual Uses Task but performed worse than non-ADHD on the Remote Associates Test and the semantic IOR task. The relationship between hyperactivity disorder ADHD and creative ability was mediated, in part, by differences in inhibition.”
People diagnose adhd are often perceived as spontaneous, easily distracted, enthusiastic, hyper-focused on things they are interested in and willing to take risks. Does this enable them to be more creative than others?
What is it to be creative?
Being creative means being able to create original ideas to solve a problem. It means being able to use one’s imagination to bring new ideas to the world. Creativity is often associated with the fine arts, but it is valuable in many areas of human endeavor: business, science, personal relations, cooking — just about anything that benefits from infusions of fresh thought from time to time.
According to George Land, we are all born creative. He conducted research, concluding that most 5-years-olds have a creative imagination, but it drops as they age. The conclusion one might reach is that non-creative behavior is learned.
Video Watch George Land discuss the process of developing creative ideas
ADHD advantage: the ability to think without constraints
People who suffer from deficit hyperactivity disorder adhd are impulsive. They enjoy thinking outside the box, without constraints. They get empowered when creative tasks, bring good outcomes. This gives them feelings of pleasure and reward as their level of dopamine is elevated.
Research studies show that people with ADHD have lower than normal dopamine levels. So that little kick from the feeling of success is quite vital to them. In other words, it can be quite motivating!
What’s common to ADHD people is that they resist conformity. They tend to ignore normal approaches to a problem, use their vision and take extra risks, often before thinking. On the other hand, this behavior can be an asset that leads them to discoveries and achievements in the fields of science, business, technology, athletics, filmmakers, and art.
10 high achievers who have ADHD
Bill Gates – A software inventor, developer, Microsoft founder, investor and philanthropist. www.gatesfoundation.org
Michael Phelps – This swimmer has won 28 medals, including 23 records for Olympic gold, 13 Olympic gold medals in individual events, and 16 Olympic medals in individual events.
Adam Levine – American singer, songwriter, musician, record producer, entrepreneur, and actor.
Sir Richard Bronson – Creator of the Virgin brand and the new project 2020 Virgin Galactic
David Neeleman – Entrepreneur who founded Jet Blue and 4 other airlines
Justin Timberlake – American singer, songwriter, actor, and producer.
Thomas Edison – American inventor and businessman, America’s greatest inventor.
Terry Bradshaw – Former professional football player and TV sports analyst
Brian Koppelman – This filmmaker created the show Billions
Leonardo da Vinci – Perhaps Italy’s greatest artist, this Renaissance man excelled at drawing, painting, architecture, engineering and astronomy.
Link: More stories about celebrities with ADHD
Hyperfocus is rewarding to the ADHD person
“Professor Michael Fitzgerald believes people with ADHD can “hyper-focus” on things of interest.”
“He claimed that it was possible to identify ADHD traits in a list of historical figures, including Sir Walter Raleigh, Thomas Edison, Oscar Wilde, James Dean, Clark Gable, and even Che Guevara…. The same genes that are involved in ADHD can also be associated with risk-taking behavior.”
Link: Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder link to genius
Individuals with ADHD can enter states of ‘hyperfocus’ — long periods of time during which they focus intensely on something that interests them. That they can concentrate so well in this state might seem contradictory because in general, they have difficulty concentrating. However, when they are immersed in a desired task, something they find rewarding, they get completely absorbed and can lose track of time for hours at a time.
Link: Most ADHD people suffer from Executive Function Disorder
Hyperfocus is a rewarding activity for them — it helps them produce dopamine, which is the brain’s pleasure/reward system.
Why individuals with ADHD love to start new creative projects
Adults with ADHD are happy to start new projects that are stimulating to them. Because of this, they tend to be more creative due to their curiosity and unusually high levels of engagement with the things that capture their interest. This is the bright side of ADHD! On the other hand, people with ADHD also have to work harder to concentrate.
ADHD is often misunderstood in adulthood as many individuals with ADHD were not diagnosed in their younger years when they were in school. Unfortunately, they may not even be aware of their problem. This can be a source of ongoing frustration. For example, they might not understand why certain tasks which are so easy for others can be so challenging for them.
In addition, there are a lot of misconceptions and a lack of understanding of how they learn. Therefore, it is important to become educated about children with adhd.
Despite dealing with this mental condition, many people have achieved incredible successes and even claim that their ADHD helped them succeed. Parents’ support and getting diagnosed and early intervention is crucial to a successful outcome.
In conclusion, ADHD presents special challenges, but it also presents special opportunities for people who can harness the enthusiasm and hyperfocus that is possible to achieve with ADHD.
References
Book: Breakpoint and Beyond: Mastering the Future Today
By George Land
Personality and Individual Differences
Volume 50, Issue 5, April 2011, Pages 673-677. Creative style and achievement in adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S019188691000601X
Uninhibited imaginations: Creativity in adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Holly A.Whitea PritiShah
Volume 40, Issue 6, Pages 1085-1322 (April 2006)
Book: Thinking Big, Creative Thinking, And Self-Discipline
By Joaquim Manuel Andrade
Zahavit Paz is a co-founder of LD Resources Foundation. She’s a graduate of CUNY Graduate disabilities study program. She is often a presenter on Assistive Technology at professional conferences in schools and colleges and has written extensively on her personal struggle with Dyslexia and ADHD. She is an advocate for individuals with LD and provides resources and information through the LDRFA website. More info about Zahavit Paz.