All elements of a problem are equal, but some are more equal than the others: the role of emotional preferences of element’s color in representational change

Abstract

The current study aimed to investigate the effect of emotional preference of problem elements on the problem solving. Specifically, we examined if the preference of the problem elements affects the value of a step in the solution when these elements are manipulated. The Katona’s five-square problem was applied. Preference of the problem’s elements was induced by the coloring of the elements with preferred colors. The coloring of two matches in the task was found to complicate the solution process dramatically. We assume this difficulty to derive from both the destruction of the original configuration, and the construction of a new one. It was found that coloring the elements weakened one source of difficulty (it decomposed the integrity of the configuration) but strengthened the other one by means of increased focus on the current location. At the same time, induced preference of an element increases the chance for this element to be chosen in the first move of the solution. The analysis of subjective and objective measures of impasse revealed a number of methodological issues, which need to be further discussed and fixed.