Pursuing original ideas, aka creativity, leads to social rejection. There's only so many times you can stand ridicule and disbelief before you disengage.
It was the other way around for me. Early childhood to high-school social rejection (via peer-bullying and such) naturally led me to focus on "things" and ideas thereby being creative with them.
However, being creative with "things" as opposed to people does lead to further social rejection thus reinforcing the formed identity. I guess this is how the nerd/geek identity is formed and maintained?
Ah yes, the "he/she must think they are rejected because others are too stupid to appreciate their brilliance" theory. Occasionally accurate, usually just used to bully those who think a bit differently.
However, being creative with "things" as opposed to people does lead to further social rejection thus reinforcing the formed identity. I guess this is how the nerd/geek identity is formed and maintained?