Autistic and positive schizotypal traits respectively predict better convergent and divergent thinking performance

Abstract

Creativity is considered essential to the advancement of every society. To measure creativity, researchers frequently assess divergent and convergent thinking, which vary widely between individuals. Some of these variances could be explained by individual difference measures. Promising are positive schizotypy (e.g., magical ideation, unusual experiences) and autistic traits (e.g., attention to detail, social communication deficits). These trait dimensions have been putatively associated with enhanced divergent and convergent thinking, respectively. Moreover, performance advantages are hypothesized to manifest in individuals who are good in both thinking styles, and by inference in individual..