Are children with Asperger syndrome creative in divergent thinking and feeling? A brief report

This study investigates whether children with Asperger syndrome (AS) show superior competence in creativity, and it examines the relationship between nonverbal creativity and nonverbal IQ and vocabulary size. Sixteen (16) children with AS and forty-two (42) typically developing peers completed the exercises in divergent thinking and feeling from a creativity assessment packet. The results revealed that the participants with AS scored significantly higher in originality and elaboration, compared to their peers. Nonverbal divergent thinking was correlated to nonverbal IQ for participants with AS. It was observed that participants with AS drew the 12 incomplete figures mostly in the areas which interest them. This result may indicate better performances in originality and lesser performances in flexibility. The study suggests that opportunities to develop expertise in the subjects in which they are absorbed may be necessary for children with AS.