The effect of post-success handwashing on insight problem solving

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Cognitive Science
• Social Psychology

Background:

• Handwashing serves physiological and symbolic cleansing functions.
• Previous research focused on handwashing's effect on negative emotions and moral judgments.
• The impact of handwashing on positive emotions and creative cognition after success is understudied.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the regulatory effect of handwashing on positive emotions induced by success.
• To investigate the influence of handwashing on insight-related problem-solving after success.
• To extend the understanding of the symbolic handwashing effect and its relation to creative thinking.

Main Methods:

• Experimental manipulation of success experiences and handwashing behavior.
• Recruitment of 96 undergraduate students, with 87 participants analyzed.
• Random assignment to handwashing, non-handwashing, and control groups.

Main Results:

• Handwashing significantly reduced positive emotions following success, acting as an emotional reset.
• Success experiences enhanced problem-solving efficiency (response time) but not overall accuracy in the Chinese Compound Remote Associates Test (CCRA).
• Handwashing decreased accuracy in insight solutions compared to the control group, suggesting an attenuation of success-induced positive emotions.

Conclusions:

• Handwashing acts as an emotional regulator after success, potentially diminishing positive emotional carryover.
• The symbolic handwashing effect may influence creative cognition by modulating positive emotions.
• Findings provide new evidence on the interplay between emotion regulation and creative thinking, warranting cautious interpretation.