PSYC*2650 Chapter 13: Problem Solving and Creativity Flashcards
What is problem-solving?
A problem in which a person begins with a goal and seeks steps that will lead them to that goal
What are two ways in which problems can be solved?
- Analysis
- Insight
What is the difference between problem-solving via analysis and problem-solving via insight?
- Analysis: Problem-solving is conscious and involves a deliberate search through the problem space
- Insight: Problem-solving is thought to occur unconsciously and is followed by a sudden moment of illumination
T or F: Problems solved via analysis are more likely to be correct than problems solved by insight.
False. Other way around.
What is the problem space?
The set of all states that can be reached in solving a problem from its initial state toward its goal state
In terms of problem-solving, what is a heuristic?
A strategy that narrows the search through the problem space in a way that hopefully leads to a solution
What are the three main problem-solving heuristics?
- The hill-climbing strategy
- Means-end analysis
- Visualization
What is the hill-climbing strategy?
When an individual’s efforts towards solving a problem gives them a choice, they choose the option that carries them closer to their goal
Why is the hill-climbing strategy of limited use?
Because many problems require that an individual moves briefly away from their goal
How is means-end analysis used to solve a problem?
When solving a problem, the person is guided by the difference between their current state and their goal state by reflecting upon what operations are available for reducing that difference
Which problem-solving heuristic helps break a problem into smaller “sub-problems”?
Means-end analysis
What is mapping?
The process of figuring out how aspects of one situation correspond to aspects of another
Which process is crucial for a problem solver’s ability to find and use analogies?
Mapping
T or F: People who are better problem-solvers are often those who make better use of analogies.
True
How do experts tend to define a problem in their area of expertise?
In terms of the problems’ underlying structure
What is an ill-defined problem?
A problem for which the goal state is specified only in general terms and the operations available for reaching the goal state are not obvious at the start
What are two strategies to help better define an ill-defined problem?
- Create subgoals
- Include extra constraints and assumptions
What is functional fixedness?
The tendency to be rigid in how one thinks about an object’s function
What is a problem-solving set?
The collection of beliefs and assumptions a person makes about a problem
What is the term “einstellung” used to define?
Refers to the rigidity that can grow out of early efforts in solving a series of problems
What are four traits thought to be “prerequisites” for creativity?
- Knowledge and skills within the category
- Certain personality traits
- Motivation unrelated to external reward
- An environment that supports creativity
What are the four hypothesized stages of creative thought?
- Preparation
- Incubation
- Illumination
- Verification
What occurs during the “preparation stage” of creative thought?
The problem solver begins effortful work on the problem, often with little progress
What occurs during the “incubation stage” of creative thought?
The problem solver puts the problem out of their conscious thoughts, but continues to work on it unconsciously
What occurs during the “illumination stage” of creative thought?
A new key insight or idea suddenly emerges
What occurs during the “verification stage” of creative thought?
The problem solver confirms that their new idea does lead to a solution, and then they work out the details of that solution
T or F: Historical evidence suggests that many creative discoveries don’t include the four hypothesized stages of creative thought.
True
T or F: A “moment of illumination” was only observed before participants gave a correct answer.
False. It was observed both before participants gave a correct answer and before giving an incorrect answer.
What are two potential explanations for why incubation of a problem is effective?
- It allows time for spreading activation to occur
- It may allow for earlier tactics to be forgotten, freeing the problem solver to explore other, more productive avenues
T or F: Semantic activation is represented more coarsely in the right hemisphere than the left.
True
What does it mean for activation to be coarse?
The activation spreads farther/ is more distributed
What is involved in a remote-associates test?
A trio of words is shown to participants, and they must determine the forth words that is related to each of the first three
Solving remote-associates test problems is associated with spreading activation in which hemisphere?
Right
Which brain area shows an increase in gamma power when the solution to a problem becomes consciously accessible (moment of insight)?
The right anterior temporal lobe (rATL)
T or F: Transcranial direct current stimulation over the right anterior temporal lobe increased the rate of solving remote-associates test problems.
True
What is convergent thinking?
Finding ways in which seemingly distinct ideas might be interconnected
Do remote-associates tests measure convergent or divergent thinking?
Convergent
What is divergent thinking?
Moving through one’s thoughts in novel and unanticipated ways
What is involved in an unusual uses test?
Participants are given an object and must list as many uses for it as possible
Do unusual uses tests measure convergent or divergent thinking?
Divergent
What is forward flow?
A measure of how much one’s current thinking breaks away from past thoughts
T or F: Forward flow is unrelated to performance on divergent thinking tasks.
False. Forward flow is moderately predictive of performance on divergent thinking tasks.
