[Mind-wandering enhances creative problem solving].
Shinrigaku Kenkyu : the Japanese Journal of Psychology
|April 10, 2018
Summary
Taking a break from a problem and allowing your mind to wander can boost creative problem-solving. Higher frequency of mind-wandering during incubation periods led to more original and flexible solutions.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Creativity Research
Background:
- The incubation period, a break from a problem, is known to aid problem-solving.
- Mind-wandering, or task-unrelated thought, is a common cognitive state during incubation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between mind-wandering frequency during incubation and creative problem-solving performance.
- To determine if mind-wandering enhances specific aspects of divergent thinking.
Main Methods:
- An experimental design involving 59 Japanese undergraduates.
- Participants completed the Unusual Uses Test (UUT) twice, with an incubation period in between.
- Self-reported frequency of mind-wandering during the incubation period was recorded.
Main Results:
- A higher frequency of mind-wandering during incubation was positively correlated with creative problem-solving.
- Specifically, mind-wandering enhanced flexibility and originality on the UUT.
- No significant effect was found on fluency.
Conclusions:
- Mind-wandering during incubation periods can significantly enhance creative problem-solving, particularly in divergent thinking aspects like flexibility and originality.
- These findings suggest that intentionally allowing the mind to wander may be a beneficial strategy for creative tasks.
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