Cloudfindings

Artistic Creativity & Substance Abuse: The Role of Schizotypy Introduction There is an undeniable association between artistic creativity and drug use: references to substance use are prevalent in nearly every genre of music, many well known and historical musicians, visual artists, comedians, actors, writers, and creative types have struggled with severe substance abuse problems, some unfortunately losing their lives early as a result. Famous examples include Vincent Van Gogh, Sigmund Freud, Kurt Cobain, Richard Pryor, Edgar Allen Poe, and Robert Downey Jr. This post examines the cause of this association. Predictors of Creativity Normal personality traits as well as pathological personality traits are predictive of creativity (includes creativity as a cognitive ability, creative hobbies & professions, creative achievements, problem solving, imagination, and creative abilities & tendencies in art, science, and in social relations): a combination of high openness, extravers...

Social Cognition in Gender Dysphoria Gender dysphoria is a condition in which it’s etiology is not yet well understood. Might its etiology involve disturbances to social cognition, and if so, how is social cognition disrupted? A review of studies on gender dysphoria relevant to social cognition [Table 1] reveals that theory of mind is largely impaired in gender dysphoria, with performance explaining 30-50% of the variance in gender dysphoric experiences, persons with gender dysphoria having poorer social skills, being more socially withdrawn, and having more social anxiety. In addition to impaired theory of mind, social behaviors similar to that of cluster B personality disorders are also found, including paranoia and narcissism.  Table 1 Cloudfindings (2021a) Prevalence of autism approximately 10x that of the general population; higher scores on autism quotient and social responsiveness scale; narcissistic, obsessive compulsive, paranoid, and borderline personality disorders preva...

Is Gender Identity Actually In The Brain? Abstract A common claim for the etiology of gender dysphoria is that the sense of being a man or women is determined by brain structure and function, and that people with gender dysphoria have an opposite sexed brain, caused by abnormalities in prenatal hormone exposure. There is almost no evidence to support this idea, with commonly referenced brain imaging findings being in specific regions of the brain (rather than the brain as a whole), involving participants on puberty blockers or hormonal treatment, and failing to be replicated. Additional evidence in people with masculinized brains raised female is weak, and could be explained by other reasons than gender identity being biological.  Brain Imaging One common claim in attempting to explain transgenderism is that brain imaging studies find that trans women have "female brains" and trans men have "male brains", and that gender identity is biological. The brain is most def...

Gender dysphoria is not equivalent to gender nonconformity Abstract A widespread assumption often used to explain why autistic persons are far more likely than non autistic persons to be transgender, is that they are less conforming to gender norms, and because of this are more likely to be transgender. I first explain why the assumption that gender dysphoria is caused by nonconformity is flawed, then I show using research on congenital adrenal hyperplasia that gender nonconformity does not explain dysphoria or being transgender. Introduction With growing evidence that gender dysphoria is associated with autism, many have suggested that this is not due to gender dysphoria being “caused” by autism, but that autistic people are more gender nonconforming, and that gender non-conformity causes gender dysphoria. The assumption that gender dysphoria and transgenderism is equivalent to gender non-conformity has also been the basis of the suggestion that the diagnosis of “gender dysphoria” is ...