Taboo desires, creativity, and career choice.

VOCATIONAL guidance; PROTESTANTS; CATHOLICS; MOTIVATION (Psychology); CREATIVE ability; LUST in Christianity

Two studies suggest that Protestants are more likely than Catholics or Jews to sublimate taboo desires into motives to pursue creative careers. The results are consistent with a synthesis of psychological and classic sociological theories. In Study 1, Protestants induced to have taboo sexual desires were likely to express a preference for creative careers (as opposed to prosocial ones). In Study 2, a national probability sample revealed that 'conflicted' Protestants-who had taboo desires but tried to rule their sexual behavior according to their religious beliefs-worked in the most creative jobs. The effects in both studies did not hold for Catholics and Jews. Results suggest that intrapsychic conflict can partially motivate important real-world decisions, such as the choice to pursue a creative career. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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