Creative minds often come from broken homes — and it’s not a coincidence
- Kav Counseling
- May 26
- 2 min read
There is a notion put across by Riso & Hudson, authors of The Wisdom of the Enneagram, that the artist archetype uses art as a medium because of the inadequacy of language and conveyance of self through relationship. Perhaps owing to the limitations of family relationships and early environment deficits, artists often find themselves in need of communicating through other mediums. We would add that different mediums lend themselves to varied expression of dimensions of self that aren't easily expressed with language forms and that can help heal life wounds. Beyond that, there is also what art can do that is positive in offering a whole realm of identity formation.
Creative expression can address core developmental needs through what Object Relations theorists identify as formative relationships with ‘idealizable’ enough objects – dyadic, dynamic relationships between a forming self and creative ideas and values with the art itself and others engaged in art. Self psychology progenitor, Heinz Kohut, principally hones in on fault lines in self development that emerge from failures of idealization that we at Kav have found underlie early roots to some chronic forms of depression. Art, music, film, writing and other mediums offer space for the development of an 'idealizable’ enough object and a liminal, transitional space where other aspects of self can be attended to, expressed and nurtured via cultural archetypes and forms they find resonance with.
Do artists come from broken homes? Or do broken homes demand art for mental health, pressing the need for identity development that uses artistic mediums to witness oneself and to see the self as an agent of special expression that in its best form is generative and healing while its more challenging form may come along with detachment from reality and narcissistic entitlement.
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