STUDIES INDICATING THE COMPLEXITY OF THE CREATIVE PERSONALITY ARE CITED. THE POSSIBILITY THAT SOCIETY THWARTS ATTEMPTS BY YOUNG PEOPLE TO EXPRESS THEIR HUMANE IMPULSES IN CONSTRUCTIVE WAYS, THUS FORCING THEM TO RESORT TO DEVIANCE, IS RAISED. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT IF PERSONALITY TRAITS OF MANY CREATIVE YOUTHS AND DELINQUENT (E.G., PROUD AND WILLFUL BEHAVIOR, DISRESPECT FOR AUTHORITY) WERE VIEWED AS VIRTUES, PERHAPS BEHAVIOR COULD BE DIRECTED TOWARD DEVELOPING THE QUALITIES OF SOCIAL CONCERN THAT ARE ALSO EVIDENT IN SUCH PEOPLE. INFLUENCES IN THE CHILD'S DEVELOPMENT OF SELF-CONCEPT ARE DISCUSSED, WITH REFERENCE TO EVIDENCE THAT MANY YOUNG PEOPLE ARE HINDERED ACADEMICALLY AND SOCIALLY BY A LOW SELF-CONCEPT. THE ROLE OF THE ARTS IN THE EDUCATION AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT OF YOUNG PEOPLE IS CONSIDERED. IT IS POINTED OUT THAT, BECAUSE OF THE PERVASIVE FORCE OF CREATIVITY WITHIN HUMAN BEINGS AND THE INSTITUTIONALIZED RESTRICTIONS ON YOUTH, RESTLESSNESS AND DEVIANT BEHAVIOR IS LIKELY TO CONTINUE. THE NEED TO DEVELOP WITHIN THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM A LEARNING ENVIRONMENT THAT ENHANCES THE SPIRIT AND SUSTAINS AND NURTURES THE CHILD'S IDENTITY IS STRESSED. (LKM)