Mathematicians: The creative researcher and the average PhD

A sample of mathematicians, 29 comparison Ss, is shown to differ from 27-34 creative research scientists in demographic and personality characteristics. Creative Ss were more flexible and richer in personality than comparison Ss, though not higher in personal ascendance or in IQ. They were more often the eldest child in their family and described their mothers with more respect and warmth. They came from higher socioeconomic backgrounds, but the native-born creatives came from less privileged backgrounds than have been reported for eminent scientists. The creative mathematicians show less predominant Protestant and American-born influence than eminent scientists. (28 ref.)