When solving problems, people generally use a style that fits into one of
two problem solving styles – analytical and insightful (Wired, May 2016 magazine).
Often people jump from one category to another, but have one major problem solving style. One example for determining which problem solving style a person might use
is this problem: Consider these three words: pine, crab, sauce. Now think of one word that
can be added to each of these three words to make a compound word or familiar
phrase.
The solution is apple – as in pineapple, crabapple, and apple sauce.
Analysts will think of a word and try it. They will try various
possibilities. For example, the word ‘cone’ fits with pine cone but not the
others, so they try another word such as tree. Cognitive psychologists label
this style of problem solving as analytical because it is linear (this follows
this, that word comes next, try another one, etc.).
Insightfuls have a ‘eureka’ moment – the word will just pop into their
mind, seemingly from nowhere. Cognitive psychologists label this style of
problem solving as insightful because there are moments of insight, or bursts
of consciousness at unpredictable times.
John Kounios and Mark Beeman, authors of The Eureka Factor: Aha Moments, Creative Insights, and the Brain
have assessed hundreds of people with problem solving tests, and find that
almost everybody solves them either analytically (most people) or insightfully
(some people). People may be analysts most of the time and insightfuls some of
the time (depending on the problem), however they will tend toward one style.
Kounios and Beeman studied brain activity while participants solved
problems. The brain’s frontal-lobe focuses attention and organises thoughts and
behaviours in a goal-oriented approach.
The brains of insightful people have slightly reduced frontal-lobe activity
compared to analysts. This enables them to let their minds ‘wander’ – which
then pops up with random thoughts (some of which provides inaccurate or ‘way
out’ answers). Analysts, with larger frontal-lobe activity stay on task and are
more organized – often also conscious of time.
The researchers found that analysts and insightfuls make different
mistakes. When given a deadline to undertake a problem, analysts work through
the problem in a conscious methodical way. If they haven’t found the solution,
they will still offer a quick guess so that they do not miss the deadline. The
solution is usually the last train of thought. Sometimes it is correct, but
often it is wrong. When insightfuls are faced with the deadline, they often
will not make a last-minute guess because they have not had any ‘pop up’
thoughts yet. They just let the deadline pass. This can sometimes be stressful
for insightfuls because they don’t know whether an idea will come or not.
People usually employ both insightful and analytical modes simultaneously
if they have longer time to ponder a problem. People will have an an idea
(sometimes insightful, but sometimes analytical – i.e. the next logical
solution) and then use the analystical mode to review and refine the answer.
Analysts may ‘block’ more ideas from emerging while they follow a linear
sequence of ideas. Insightfuls may ‘block’ the process of logical order because
they are waiting for a ‘breakthrough’ idea.
However, for best
problem solving results, people alternate between modes with an open, relaxed
mind, with a loose agenda, and no time pressure.
MARTINA NICOLLS is the author of:-
The Shortness of Life: A Mongolian Lament (2015), Liberia’s Deadest Ends
(2012), Bardot’s Comet (2011), Kashmir on a Knife-Edge (2010) and The Sudan
Curse (2009).
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