Problemsolving

Question 1

What kind of problems exist

Answer 1

• well defined problems
• ill defined problems
• knowledge rich problems
  = the knowledge is needed in order to solve the problem
• knowledge lean problems:
  = the problem can be solved without any specific problems.

Question 2

uniformity fallacy

Answer 2

the belief that overall things will even out.

e.g. Monty hall problem

–> people have three doors to open behind one there will be a car behind the others there are goats.

the moderator opens one and there is a goat.

After this reveal do the guests have a higher likelyhood to now find a car behind the other doors or an even likelyhood or lower one?

Most people answer higher likelyhood because they use the uniformity fallacy.

Question 3

Gestalt approach to problem solving

Answer 3

Reproductive thinking:
- reusing previous experiences in order to solve a problem

Productive thinking:

• finding a solution through novel restructuring

Insight:

• experiencing a sudden comprehensation of the problem

–> the comprehensation feels sudden, because the subconscious is working in the background without active thinking.

–> on way of thinking is replaced by another one

–> the candle problem box problem

Question 4

Insight problems vs non insight problems

Answer 4

• insight: no comprehension until a sudden comprehension

non insight problems:
- steady increase of understanding

Question 5

Brain regions mainly involved in problem solving

Answer 5

• Anterior superior temporal gyrus in the right hemisphere
• anterior cingulate cortex
• -> associated with insight
• -> detection of cognitive conflict and breaking of mindset

Question 6

how to facilitate insight

Answer 6

• a hint can facilitate an insight- shorten the time it takes for an insight to arise
• example with the two ropes

= two ropes were hanging far from each other. The ropes are too far to be reached by the person.

only with using a bucket that was laying next to the setting and tying it to the one rope the participants could use the ropes as pendulum and try to tie the ropes together.

Insight facilitated–> incubation, sleep ( sleep can also be seen as a form of incubation)