Why Does Society Hate Creative People?

Imagine a world where everything is constantly changing. Every day, your computer updates, your car becomes outdated, and a wind farm replaces your view out of the window. Your children spend their days indoors, playing video games, while your medical advice now only comes from digital devices, and your local corner shop has been replaced by phone deliveries. When someone creates something, they also destroy something. This phenomenon is known as creative destruction.

Understanding Creative Destruction

Creative destruction is the deliberate dismantling of established processes to make way for improved methods of production. It is most often used to describe disruptive technologies such as the railroads or, more recently, the internet. This concept can be seen in various forms, from the rise of renewable energy to the emergence of digital communication.

Society's Insecurity and Comfort Getting Blown Up

The fundamental reason why society feels conflicted about creative people is the feeling of insecurities. When creative individuals innovate and change the lives of millions, including themselves, it causes discomfort. Society loves creative people when they entertain, but it hates them when they challenge the status quo and struggle to manifest their ideas.

Levels of Creativity

Not all creativity is the same. Everyone uses at least some level of creativity to perform their jobs, even in the least creative professions. Creativity is essential for handling novel situations and is a challenge for AI, which remains focused on hyperfocused narrow tasks. The most valued creative individuals are those who make incremental improvements, such as managers, CEOs, and academics, who refine existing processes and add tangential value.

The Most Creative People

However, the most creative people are those who push their fields into the unknown. These individuals often work in unpredictable territories, where the value of their output is undefined, and the end result is uncertain. The risk involved in trusting such individuals is often too much for the masses to bear. This necessitates extra effort from these creative people to achieve recognition and validation.

Embracing the Unknown

Society cannot afford to embrace the unknown and the risks it brings. Instead, there is a systemic fear that creative destruction will disrupt the status quo and put people out of their jobs. Instead, society often prefers incremental changes that preserve the familiar rather than adopting disruptive innovations that could lead to significant progress.

As we move forward into an era of constant change, it is crucial to find a balance between embracing the creative and managing the fears it incites. By understanding the insecurities that surround creative people and working towards more inclusive and supportive environments, we can harness the power of creativity to drive positive change.