EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL ON PERSISTENT EFFORT AND DEDUCTIVE THINKING DURINGTHE PREPARATION PHASE OF THE CREATIVE PROCESS

According to the four stage model of creativity (Wallas, 1926/1970) th e first stage is a phase of preparation, which requires a persistent i ntellectual effort over time and ability to reason deductively. The pr esent study explored whether alcohol intoxication would impair these t wo abilities. 42 men and women were randomly assigned to either an Alc ohol, a Placebo, or a Control group. After drinking subjects completed two tests measuring persistent effort and deductive reasoning. Result s indicated that the Alcohol and Placebo groups were impaired with res pect to persistent effort and that the Alcohol group also was impaired with respect to deductive reasoning. Consequences for the creative pr oduction under alcohol intoxication were discussed.