Representational change theory
changing the representation of a problem does give rise to the insight of a problem
Which methods does the representational Change theory use in order to get to an insight?
Step one: Constraint relaxation
Step two : Re- encoding
reinterpreting aspects of the problem relaxation
Elaboration :
New aspects are added to the problem representation
Difference of Gestalt to Representational Change theory
- the problem representation which is developed during the search process does serve as a tool to retrieve more knowledge from the spreading longterm memory .
- impasses occur when there is no possible actions that can be found
less activation of the left prefrontal cortex reduces the inhibition of the constraint relaxation.
high activity in the right prefrontal cortex–> faster progress in insight finding.
Limitations to the representational change theory
- no possible prediction of the outcome / the change
- the theory is based on a single factor ( constraint relaxation)
- constraint relaxation is not the solution to insight problems, it just enhances the likelyhood to find a solution.
functional fixedness
- the inflexibility in seeing another mental representation to a problem.
- the current mental representation is influenced by past experiences.
Gestaltists argument:
- this can help to find a solution more easily but is also often misleading and makes us fixed on a wrong representation.
problem space
–> problem solving strategy
defining a current space a goal space and spaces in between.
- abstract representation of the states that may occur within a problem that needs to be solved.
Mental set
- tendency to make use of a familiar problem solving strategy even that has worked out in the past but might not be sufficient in the current situation.
Heuristics
- mental short cuts that provide fast and cognitively undemanding answers to current problems.
–> those answer are approximately accurate
- often fail to answer the question fully correct.
Means end analysis
- a problem solving heuristic strategy.
definining the goal state and the current state and defining subgoals
Hill climbing
- heurisitic which approaches a goal state without prior defining the goal state just starting to do something in one direction.
- disadvantage is that this heuristic can only tackle short term goals.
Progress Monitoring
- heuristic which monitors the progress in a given time and adapts the strategy if needed.
The Doll Problem
?
Planning
- planning plays a crucial role in problem solving.
- the prefrontal cortex is the one mostly used for planning.
- damage to the left prefrontal cortex is more severe than damage to the right prefrontal cortex.
Cognitive miserliness
strategy to use as little time and effort as possible in order to perform a task.
–> due to our limited processing capacity
- we use heuristics because of our limited processing capacity.
Analogies
- a heuristic which uses similar past experiences to
in order to solve a present problem. - superficial similarities lead often to mistakes when applied to current situations
- structural similarities are more likely to solve the present problem correctly.
Analogical retrieval steps
analogical retrieval:
unconsciously retrieving an anology from LTM that matches the present problem.
mapping:
- putting the retrieved analogy into context
analogical inference:
transferring the problem solving strategy from the past analogy to the current problem.
schema induction:
creating a new problem schema on basis of the comparison between the analogy and current problem.
Which brain regions are required for analogical problem solving.
- complex cognitive process
- prefrontal cortex is mainly involved in the execution of analogical processing.
- difference between associative analogies and categorical analogies
- associative analogies are more direct and less abstract
- categorical analogies are more abstract and more complex
- prefrontal cortex needs to do a lot of inhibitory work.
–> analogical problem solving needs the central executive. ( very limited capacity)
Analogical reasoning
- has a 0,7 correlation with intelligence
- higher level cognitive processes are related to intelligence
as well as working memory functioning
Creativity defined in East and West
East:
- an enlightenment a discovery of something that way invisible before.
- eastern creativity is consciousness based.
- not only active creation but also receptive openness to new information.
West:
- intellect based
- creation out of nothingness
- creator= hero
- breakthrough in the knowledge domain.
