A few days ago, the psychology laboratory at the University of Buffalo published A study with astonishing results: by interviewing nearly 300 people with “social anxiety”, the researchers revealed a positive correlation between loneliness and creativity. In short: being alone could help you boost your creativity. A result that goes against what we hear everywhere about the virtues of collaboration, group creative thinking, etc.
“Be alone, that is the secret of invention; be alone, that is when ideas are born” - Nikola Tesla
According to researchers, loneliness and its psychological effects have never really been studied but have always been considered as a consequence of an attitude that is harmful to the individual. Until now. The study is in fact the opposite of the usual vision: it shows that slightly a-social behavior would allow for a greater creative propensity and therefore makes this behavior a positive resource.
It would also seem that taking a step back from social activities - understanding social networks, permanent solicitation, exchanges with others, etc. i.e. withdrawing from the war of attention - is all the more favorable to creativity as it is used to reconnect with nature or with oneself (creativity being measured in the ability to have ideas and especially to work on them in an appropriate place to make them a reality).
These results corroborate the famous phrase of the scientist Nikola Tesla:”Be alone, that is the secret of invention; be alone, that is when ideas are born”. Are we moving towards a change in perception of creative methods, and especially on a revaluation of solitude chosen as a virtue and not as a stigmatizing defect?
