Department of Psychology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA.
Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, Chicago, IL, USA.
Psychol Res. 2020 Jul;84(5):1235-1248. doi: 10.1007/s00426-019-01152-y. Epub 2019 Feb 12.
People can solve problems in two main styles: through a methodical analysis, or by a sudden insight (also known as 'Aha!' or 'Eureka!' experience). Analytical solutions are achieved primarily with conscious deliberation in a trial-and-error fashion. 'Aha!' moments, instead, happen suddenly, often without conscious deliberation and are considered a critical facet of creative cognition. Previous research has indicated an association between creativity and risk taking (a personality trait); however, few studies have investigated how a short-term situational state of risk modulates these two different problem-solving styles. In this research, we looked at how both state and trait risks taking is related to different problem-solving styles. To measure risk as a personality trait, we administered the Balloon Analog Risk Task. To investigate risk as a state, we created a scenario, where people had to bet on their problem-solving performance at the beginning of each trial, and we compared the performance of this group with a control group that did not have to bet. The results show no association between risk as a trait and problem-solving style; however, the risk state scenario did produce a shift in dominant problem-solving style with participants in the risk scenario group solving more problems via analysis. We also found that two factors are related to problem-solving accuracy: the amount bet (i.e., when people place higher bets, they solve more problems), and success on the previous trial, especially if the solution was achieved via analysis. Furthermore, the data reveal that when under risk, females are better problem solvers than males.
通过有条不紊的分析，或者通过突然的顿悟（也称为“啊哈！”或“尤里卡！”体验）。分析性解决方案主要通过有意识的反复试验来实现。相反，“啊哈！”时刻突然发生，通常没有有意识的思考，被认为是创造性认知的一个关键方面。以前的研究表明创造力和冒险（一种性格特征）之间存在关联；然而，很少有研究调查短期情境风险如何调节这两种不同的问题解决风格。在这项研究中，我们研究了状态和特质风险如何与不同的问题解决风格相关。为了衡量作为性格特征的风险，我们进行了气球模拟风险任务。为了研究风险作为一种状态，我们创建了一个场景，在每个试验开始时，人们都必须在自己的问题解决表现上下注，我们将这个组的表现与不需要下注的对照组进行了比较。结果表明，风险作为特质与问题解决风格之间没有关联；然而，风险情景确实导致了主导问题解决风格的转变，风险情景组的参与者通过分析解决了更多的问题。我们还发现，有两个因素与问题解决的准确性有关：下注金额（即，当人们下注更高时，他们会解决更多的问题），以及前一次试验的成功，尤其是如果解决方案是通过分析得出的。此外，数据显示，在面临风险时，女性比男性更擅长解决问题。
