Exploring the Role of Art-making in Recovery, Change, and Self-understanding: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of Interviews with Everyday Creative People

Most creativity theorists consider artists as “agents of control”, capable of overcoming and controlling psychological distress. However, studies have yet to map the “healing” tendency for “everyday creative people” in detailing the process’ effects on perception and change. This study was aimed to examine this process via a phenomenological and Perceptual Control Theory perspective (PCT: see Powers, W. T. (1973). Behaviour: The control of perception. Chicago: Aldine). We recruited and interviewed eleven participants who had engaged in art-making and experienced recovery from psychological distress. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was used to identify themes between participant responses, generated from self-created semi-structured interview schedules following Smith and Osborn’s technique (IPA: see Smith, J. A., & Osborn, M. (2008). Interpretativephenomenological analysis. In J. A. Smith (Ed.), Qualitative psychology: A practical guide to research methods, 2nd edition, (53-80). London: Sage). Data analysis identified six superordinate themes: 1) “the process of creating as a goal-oriented focus”, 2) “internalising process and product”, 3) “awareness shift and self-focus”, 4) “emotion regulation”, 5) “goal change, bonding, and conflict resolution”, and 6) “feelings and perceptions within the art-making process”. Disconfirming Case Analysis and participant feedback also indicated a seventh theme: 7) “the ‘superficial’ creative process”. The results were interpreted to indicate that art-making involves the purposeful creation of perceptual experience to fulfil higher-order goals and values. The creative process is also a learning process which instigates and promotes positive affect, enhances skills, and facilitates change in higher-order goals. We consider these interpretations in the light of the components of PCT.