Treffer: How children understand aha-experiences in problem solving.

Title:
How children understand aha-experiences in problem solving.
Authors:
Haugen J; Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.; Centre for Epidemic Interventions Research, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway., Prenevost MH; Department of Psychology, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK., Nilsen IBR; Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden., Bølstad E; Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway., Pons F; Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway., Reber R; Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
Source:
The British journal of developmental psychology [Br J Dev Psychol] 2025 Nov; Vol. 43 (4), pp. 943-957. Date of Electronic Publication: 2025 Apr 17.
Publication Type:
Journal Article
Language:
English
Journal Info:
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 8308022 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 2044-835X (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 0261510X NLM ISO Abbreviation: Br J Dev Psychol Subsets: MEDLINE
Imprint Name(s):
Publication: <2012-> : Chichester : Wiley-Blackwell
Original Publication: Leicester [Leicestershire] : British Psychological Society, c1983-
MeSH Terms:
Problem Solving*/physiology , Child Development*/physiology , Comprehension*/physiology , Affect*/physiology, Humans ; Female ; Male ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Age Factors ; Theory of Mind/physiology
References:
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Br J Dev Psychol. 2025 Nov;43(4):943-957. (PMID: 40247640)
Child Dev. 2012 Mar-Apr;83(2):667-82. (PMID: 22187976)
Grant Information:
The Research Council of Norway
Contributed Indexing:
Keywords: aha‐experiences; emotion development; insight; problem solving
Entry Date(s):
Date Created: 20250418 Date Completed: 20251008 Latest Revision: 20251010
Update Code:
20251010
PubMed Central ID:
PMC12505822
DOI:
10.1111/bjdp.12565
PMID:
40247640
Database:
MEDLINE

Weitere Informationen

Two studies explore how 4-8-year-old children develop an understanding of aha-experiences. Study 1 used a scenario approach to investigate children's understanding of the impact that having an insight has on affect. Children (N = 125) rated affect of a story character at different timepoints in problem-solving scenarios with and without aha-moments. Study 2 presented children (N = 167) with a story character displaying an aha response and two different stories of problem solving that may have led to the response. Results show that from age 4, children associate aha-experiences with positive affect. However, age differences were observed for triggers of aha-experiences. While 4-5-year-olds attributed aha-experiences to external triggers (the solution), 7-8-year-olds attributed them to mental triggers (a new insight). These findings indicate that children's understanding of aha-experiences develops over time, which aligns with theories of emotional development and theory of mind.
(© 2025 The Author(s). British Journal of Developmental Psychology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of British Psychological Society.)