Creative Thinking Abilities of Adolescent Substance Abusers

JAY EDWARDS

Authors

JAY EDWARDS Author

Keywords:

Abusers

Abstract

Using the Torrance Test of Creative Thinking, Figural Form A, I have studied the creative-thinking abilities of 15 substance-abusing hospitalized adolescents and 15 non-substance-abusing hospitalized adolescents. The determination of substance-abusing versus nonsubstance abusing waas made on the basis of psychiatric evaluation and diagnosis. I performed t tests to determine differences
between groups on the variables of flexibility and overall creativity. The substance-abusing group showed significantly lower scores on both criteria. These findings suggest that substance-abusing adolescents may lack some creative-thinking abilities that, if present, might increase their ability to adapt to environmental changes and remain functional rather than resort to drug abuse. These findings support the need for creativity and spontaneity training as an adjunctive therapy in drug treatment.

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Creative Thinking Abilities of Adolescent Substance Abusers

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