Dissociation between the subjective experience of insight and performance in the CRA paradigm

ABSTRACT

CRA problems can be solved with an Aha! experience in at least two different ways: via pop-out solutions (without overcoming an impasse) and true insight (with overcoming an impasse). The purpose of the present research was to test whether these solution types can be discriminated in CRA. We modified the CRA problems and added two priming conditions: relevant (decreases the probability of an impasse) and irrelevant (increases it). In Experiment 1 (N = 20), CRA problems were followed by reports on the Global Aha! rating and 6 subjective self-reports. In Experiment 2 (N = 40), a visual report on the solving process was introduced. Irrelevant priming trials were followed by lower success rates. The subjective self-reports and visual reports were different for correct and incorrect solutions but not for the two priming conditions. Thus, there is a dissociation in performance (affected by priming) and self-reports (affected by performance but not priming).

KEYWORDS:

• Problem solving
• insight
• CRA
• impasse
• priming
• aha-experience

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The article was prepared in the framework of a research grant funded by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation [grant number 075-15-2020-908].