A Literature Review: Alcohol and Its Impact on Creativity in Undergraduate Students

Abstract

Record ID: 78

Award(s): Excellence in Undergraduate Research Mentorship

Program Affiliation: NA

Presentation Type: Poster

Abstract: Alcohol seems to have been woven through our culture; in fact, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 49 percent of college students have consumed alcohol in the past month (NSDUH, 2022). Despite more recent interventions and research on the detrimental effects of drinking, alcohol-related consequences still persist in society. One  important aspect to look at in relation to alcohol use is creativity, which is key for problem solving and brainstorming; it is so complex and multifaceted that it is hard to get a concrete measurement. This project presents a holistic review of the differing methods used to measure creativity, and how the usage of alcohol impacts creativity, including across different measurements of creativity. These methods range from looking at the concept of divergent thinking, to looking at the creative process (preparation,incubation,illumination, verification, restitution), and how alcohol inhibits and disinhibits varying parts of the creative process. Preliminary findings suggest that divergent thinking has shown to be minimally affected by alcohol; while the creative process was shown to be inhibited by alcohol at the illumination phase and facilitated at the verification phase. These inconsistent and complex findings from the literature review demonstrate the need for future studies to look at the drinking behavior of college students and how that has impacted their ability to creatively think.