Catching up with insight: modern approaches and meth-ods of measuring insight in cognitive psychology

Abstract

The discussion of the insight phenomenon has been ongoing for over a hundred years. Emergence of a new trend in research indicates that the criteria for the insight definition have been revisited. As opposed to the traditional research focusing on the cognitive component of insight, modern researchers shifted attention towards its affective component (the Aha! experience). However, multiplicity of methods for estimation of insight makes it difficult to compare experimental results and to understand the link between the two components. In this paper we discuss disadvantages of traditional definition of insight and analyze new methods for the cognitive and affective components to be estimated. Additionally, results of the study applying these methods are covered.  Based on the analysis three approaches to the definition of insight were identified. The first approach defines insight as cognitive mechanism with the aha-experience performing as an indicator of this mechanism to be involved in problem solving process. The second approach assumes that aha-experience, along with cognitive processes, participates in the problem-solving process; thereby, insight can be designated as a cognitive-affective phenomenon. Within the third approach insight represents a metacognitive phenomenon. We believe that insight relates to the monitoring and assessing the solution found, not the solution process' specifics. More research on cognitive and affective components of insight is needed in order to clarify the nature of the connection between them.