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Reflections on abstract topics lead to inspiration

24.07.2020

History is rich in manifestations of "eureka": they say that scientists from Archimedes to Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein, reflecting on abstract topics, experienced impulses of inspiration. However, the mechanisms responsible for this psychological phenomenon remain unclear. Current research suggests that simply taking a break from work does not create inspiration, but activities that allow thoughts to wander are likely to favor creativity.

This discovery was made by UC Santa Barbara psychologists Benjamin Baird and Jonathan Schooler. The researchers gave 145 undergraduate students two "unusual uses" tasks and two minutes to list as many uses as they could for everyday items such as toothpicks, coat hangers and bricks.

When the two minutes were up, the participants were given a 12-minute break during which they rested, completed complex memory tasks requiring their full attention, or participated in non-burdensome reaction/timing tasks that helped dissipate thoughts. The fourth group of students did not have a break. Then all participants were given four tasks for unusual use, including two previously completed.

On average, students who took part in an easy task performed 41% better on their second attempt at repeatable tasks. In contrast, students from the other three groups did not show any improvement.

In the second round, participants who were engaged in non-burdensome activities coped with new tasks for unusual applications no better than the rest.

In addition to the conclusion that breaks alone do not promote creative thinking, Baird's work also leads to an explanation of one of the great mysteries of psychology: why we "hang". From the point of view of evolution, the dispersion of thoughts seems to be completely inexpedient and due to the fact that it jeopardizes the effectiveness of people's physical activity. However, Baird's research shows that there are real benefits to immersing yourself in this state when thinking about difficult problems. Perhaps, when survival depended on creative solutions, it was "freezing" that rescued people.

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