Beautiful Minds

Musings on the Many Paths to Greatness

by Scott Barry Kaufman

How Convergent and Divergent Thinking Foster Creativity

What happens when the IQ test taker becomes the IQ test constructor? Read More

The Need to Believe in the Ability of Disability

Our society has clear expectations regarding students who don’t fit the norm. Read More

Must One Risk Madness to Achieve Genius?

Must one risk getting lost in the sea of madness in order to reach the lone island of genius? Read More

Educational Psychologist Kevin McGrew: An IQ Test Maker Who Goes Beyond IQ

IQ test maker Kevin McGrew on IQ testing and the need to go beyond IQ. Read More

Who Is Currently Identified as Gifted in the United States?

A recent national survey of state policies and practices reveals how the United States defines giftedness, identifies giftedness, and accommodates gifted minority students. Read More

The Will and Ways of Hope

Hope involves the will to get there, and different ways to get there. Read More

Is Daydreaming Pathological?

Recent research reexamines the link between fantasy and psychopathology. Read More

Baba Brinkman's Psychological Profile

I had the pleasure of sitting down with rapper, playwright, and science/literature popularizer Baba Brinkman. We chatted about his development as a rapper. I also gave him a battery of psychological tests, and we discussed his results. Have you always wondered whether Baba Brinkman has adaptive forms of narcissism (admit it, you have)? Then check out this video right away! Read More

Confidence Matters Just as Much as Ability

Differences in performance may not have to do so much with actual ability, as confidence in that ability. Read More

The Dark Side of Creativity

Creativity is not always ethical. Read More

Tucker Max's Psychological Profile

Tucker Max took my lengthy psychological battery of personality and reasoning tests. Here are his shocking, and nuanced results. Read More

Who Enters Flow?

Flow- the mental state of being completely present and fully immersed in a task- is a strong contributor to creativity. But who enters flows? Read More

Is High Ability Necessary for Greatness?

To reach the highest levels of greatness requires ability. But is high ability necessary, or can one compensate for deficiencies by drawing on strengths? Read More

Intelligence Is Still Not Fixed at Birth

Recent research confirms that intelligence fluctuates quite a bit in adolescence. Read More

Imagine Science Film Festival Fosters Collaboration Between Scientists and Filmmakers

The Imagine Science Film Festival Kicks Off Read More

Psychedelics Open the Mind

I always thought there was something psychedelic about Apple products. Recent research suggests that Jobs' trips in the 70's may have indeed opened up his mind. Read More

Why Inspiration Matters

Inspiration allows us to transcend our ordinary experiences and limitations and is a strong driver of creativity and well-being. In recent years, fascinating studies on inspiration have emerged, allowing us to take something as seemingly elusive as inspiration and understand its operation and impact on other important psychological outcomes. Read More

How To Increase Your Harmonious Passion

Work brings some people intrinsic joy. These people feel in control of their work, feel good about themselves while working, find their work to be in harmony with their other activities. Psychologists describe these folks as having harmonious passion. But there's another kind of passion... Read More

Sexual Lyrics Predict Pop Music Popularity

While there are a large number of reasons why songs rise in the charts, lyrics also play an important role and one unavoidable theme in the lyrics of pop songs is reproduction. Read More

Want People to Know Your True Self? Show Your Best Self!

When I think of self-presenters, I conjure up images of slimy used car salesmen and telemarketers on TV at 3 in the morning. A new study suggests I'm being unfair to self-presenters. Read More

Does Creativity Require Constraints?

If I asked you to draw a person from planet aardvark, would you be more creative if (a) I gave you no examples, or (b) gave you a few examples of what aardvarkians look like? Read More

Is Conscientiousness Compatible with Creativity?

On the one hand, creative achievers persevere over many years despite obstacles and criticism. On the other hand, they are disorderly, and don't care what others think. Creative individuals are not people pleasers. How can this be? How can creative people be both Conscientious and not Conscientious at the same time? Read More

A Call for New Measures of Asperger’s and Schizotypy

Our current methods of distinguishing between Asperger's and Schizotypy in the general population are woefully incomplete. Read More

Is Your Passion for Work Leading to Burnout?

While passion seems clearly desirable, recent psychological research suggests that not all forms are adaptive. In fact, some forms can be downright detrimental. Read More

How Our Senses Influence Creativity

Tickling the senses can lead to greater creativity. Read More

Why is Narcissism Adaptive in Youth?

A new, developmental study of narcissism reveals benefits in youth. But why is narcissism adaptive among young adults? Read More

Bad Boys Have Lower Standards

How do bad boys rack up so many sexual partners? Recent research suggests a possibility: they lower their standards. Read More

Why Nagging Women and Silent Men Drive Each Other Crazy

Nagging women and silent men don't mix. Psychological science explains why. Read More

Finding Creativity on IQ Tests

IQ tests have received a very large number of criticisms since their inception. One of the main arguments made against the use of IQ tests is that they don't measure creativity. But is this true? As it turns out, the potential for finding creativity on IQ tests depends a lot on how the test is administered. Read More

What's a Shy, Geeky, Nice Guy to Do? The Case of Rebecca Watson

What shy, geeky, nice guys can learn from the Rebecca Watson incident. Read More

Scott Barry Kaufman, Ph.D., is a cognitive psychologist at NYU, Co-founder of The Creativity Post, and Chief Pedagogical Advisor of The Future Project.

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