Insight

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Biography

Insight is the understanding of a specific cause and effect in a specific context. Insight can be used with several related meanings of insight

a piece of information

the act or result of understanding the inner nature of things or of seeing Intuition (knowledge)|intuitively in Greek called noesis

an introspection

the power of acute observation and Deductive reasoning|deduction , penetration, discernment , perception called intellection or noesis

an understanding of cause and effect based on identification of relationships and behaviors within a model, context, or scenario (see artificial intelligence )

An insight that manifests itself suddenly, such as understanding how to solve a difficult problem, is sometimes called by the German word Eureka effect|Aha-Erlebnis . The term was coined by the German psychologist and theoretical linguist Karl Bühler . It is also known as an epiphany (feeling)|epiphany .

In psychology

In psychology, insight occurs when a solution to a problem presents itself quickly and without warning. The phenomenon had its beginnings with Gestalt_psychology|Gestalt Psychology , in the early part of the 19th century, during the search for an alternative to associationism and the associationistic view on learning. Some proposed potential mechanisms for insight include: suddenly seeing the problem in a new way, connecting the problem to another relevant problem/solution pair, releasing past experiences blocking the solution presentation, or seeing the bigger, coherent picture of a problem.

Methods

Generally, methodological approaches to the study of insight in the laboratory involve presenting participants with problems and puzzles that cannot be solved in a conventional or logical manner. Problems of insight commonly fall into three types.

Breaking Functional Fixedness

The first type of problem forces participants to use objects in a way they are not accustomed to (thus, breaking their functional fixedness ), like the “Duncker candle problem”. In the “Duncker candle problem”, individuals are given matches and a box of tacks and asked to find a way to attach a candle to the wall to light the room. The solution requires the participants to empty the box of tacks, set the candle inside the box, tack the box to the wall, and light the candle with the matches.

Using Spatial Ability

The second type of insight problem requires spatial ability to solve, like the “Nine-dot Problem”. The famous “Nine-dot problem” requires participants to draw four lines, through nine dots, without picking their pencil up.

Using Verbal Ability

The third, and final, type of problem requires verbal ability to solve, like the Remote Associates Test. In the RAT, individuals must think of a word that connects three, seemingly unrelated, words. RAT are often used in experiments, because they can be solved both with and without insight.

Specific Results

Insight versus Non-insight Problems

Two clusters of problems, those solvable by insight and those not requiring insight to solve, have been observed. An individual’s cognitive flexibility, fluency , and vocabulary ability are predictive of performance on insight problems, but not on non-insight problems. In contrast, Fluid_and_crystallized_intelligence|fluid intelligence is mildly predictive of performance on non-insight problems, but not on insight problems.

Emotion

People in a better mood are more likely to solve problems by insight. Research demonstrated that self-reported positive affect of participants uniquely increased insight before and during the solving of a problem, as indicated by differing brain activity patterns. Interestingly, people experiencing anxiety showed the opposite effect, and solved less problems by insight.

Incubation

Using a geometric and spatial insight problem, it was found that providing participants with breaks improved their performance as compared to participants who did not receive a break. However, the length of incubation between problems did not matter. Thus, participants' performance on insight problems improved just as much with a short break (four minutes) as it did with a long break (12 minutes).

Sleep

Research has shown sleep to help produce insight. Individuals were initially trained on insight problems. Following training, one group was tested on the insight problems after sleeping for eight hours at night, one group was tested after staying awake all night, and one group was tested after staying awake all day. Those that slept performed twice as well on the insight problems than those who stayed awake.

In the Brain

Differences in brain activation in the left and right hemisphere seem to be indicative of insight versus non-insight solutions. Using RAT’s that were either presented to the left or right visual field, it was shown that participants having solved the problem with insight were more likely to have been shown the RAT on the left visual field, indicating right hemisphere processing. This provides evidence that the right hemisphere plays a unique role in insight.

fMRI and EEG scans of participants completing RAT's demonstrated unique brain activity corresponding to problems solved by insight. For one, there is high EEG activity in the alpha- and gamma-band about 300 milliseconds before participants indicated a solution to insight problems, but not to non-insight problems. Additionally, problems solved by insight corresponded to increased activity in the temporal lobes and mid-frontal cortex, while more activity in the posterior cortex corresponded to non-insight problems. The data suggests there is something different occurring in the brain when solving insight versus non-insight problems that happens right before the solving of the problem.

Group Insight

Individual Differences

Personality and gender, as they relate to performance on insight problems, was studied using a variety of insight problems. It was found that participants who ranked lower on emotionality and higher on openness to experience performed better on insight problems. Interestingly, men outperformed women on insight problems, and women outperformed men on non-insight problems.

Higher intelligence (higher IQ) has also been found to be associated with better performance on insight problems. However, those of lower intelligence benefit more than those of higher intelligence from being provided with cues and hints for insight problems.

Metacognition

Individuals are poorer at predicting their own metacognition for insight problems, than for non-insight problems. Individuals were asked to indicate how “hot” or “cold” to a solution they felt. Generally, they were able to predict this fairly well for non-insight problems, but not for insight problems. This provides evidence for the suddenness involved during insight.

In Naturalistic Settings

Recently, insight was studied in a non-laboratory setting. Accounts of insight that have been reported in the media, such as in interviews, etc., were examined and coded. It was found that insights that occur in the field are typically reported to be associated with a sudden “change in understanding” and with “seeing connections and contradictions” in the problem. Interestingly, it was also found that insight in nature differed from insight in the laboratory. For example, insight in nature was often rather gradual, not sudden, and incubation was not as important.

In Animals

Studies with apes have provided evidence of insight in animals. Apes were presented with an insight problem that required the use of objects in new and original ways, in order to win a prize (usually, some kind of food). It was observed that the animals would continuously fail to get the food, and this process occurred for quite some time; however, rather suddenly, they would purposefully use the object in the way needed to get the food, as if the realization had occurred out of nowhere. Experimenters regarded the behavior as something resembling insight in apes.

Theories

There are a number of theories representing insight; at present, no one theory dominates interpretation.

Dual Process Theory

According to the dual process theory, there are two systems used to solve problems. The first involves logical and analytical thought processes based on reason, while the second involves intuitive and automatic processes based on experience. Research has demonstrated that insight probably involves both processes; however, the second process is more influential.

Three-Process Theory

According to the three-process theory, intelligence plays a large role in insight. Specifically, insight involves three different processes (selective encoding, combination, and comparison), which require intelligence to apply to problems. Selective encoding is the process of focusing attention on ideas relevant to a solution, while ignoring features that are irrelevant. Selective combination is the process of combining the information previously deemed relevant. Finally, selective comparison is the use of past experience with problems and solutions that are applicable to the current problem and solution.

Four-Stage Model

According to the four-stage model of insight, there are four stages to problem solving. First, the individual prepares to solve a problem. Second, the individual incubates on the problem, which encompasses trial-and-error, etc. Third, the insight occurs, and the solution is illuminated. Finally, the verification of the solution to the problem is experienced. Since this model was proposed, other similar models have been explored that contain two or three similar stages.

In psychiatry

In psychology and psychiatry , insight can mean the ability to recognize one's own mental illness .Marková I.S. (2005) Insight in Psychiatry . Cambridge, Cambridge University Press. This form of insight has multiple dimensions, such as recognizing the need for treatment, and recognizing consequences of one's behavior as stemming from an illness. A person with very poor recognition or acknowledgment is referred to as having "poor insight" or "lack of insight." The most extreme form is Anosognosia , which is the total absence of insight into one's own mental illness. Many mental illnesses are associated with varying levels of insight. For example, people with obsessive compulsive disorder and various phobias tend to have relatively good insight that they have a problem and that their thoughts and/or actions are unreasonable, yet are compelled to carry out the thoughts and actions regardless.Markova I S, Jaafari N & Berrios G E (2009) Insight and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: A conceptual analysis. Psychopathology 42: 277-282 Patients with Alzheimer's disease , schizophrenia and various psychotic conditions tend to have very poor awareness that anything is wrong with them.Marková I.S., Berrios G.E. & Hodges J H (2004) Insight into Memory Function. Neurology, Psychiatry & Brain Research 11: 115-126

"Insight" can also refer to other matters in psychology. Problem solving behavior requiring insight is the subject of insight phenomenology .

An insight is the derivation of a rule which links cause with Causality|effect . The mind is a model of the universe built up from insights.

Thoughts of the mind fall into two categories:
# Analysis of past experience with the purpose of gaining insight for use within this model at a later date
# Simulations of future scenarios using existing insights in the mind model in order to predict outcomes
A mature mind has assimilated many insights and understands cause and effect. When insight is not subordinate to a validation discipline like the ' scientific method ', fallacious thinking can result in a confused mind.

Intuition, which is often described in the popular literature as an alternative thought process, is merely another manifestation of insight.AJ Giannini, J Daood, MC Giannini, RS Boniface, PG Rhodes. Intellect versus intuition& mdash;a dichotomy in the reception of nonverbal communication.Journal of General Psychology. 99:19& ndash;25,1978. In this process, multiple bits of seemingly unrelated data are linked together and a hypothesis or plan of action is generated. Usually this process is generated in a novel situation. Such a circumstance links data which had previously seemed unrelated.AJ Giannini, ME Barringer, MC Giannini, RH Loiselle. Lack of relationship between handedness and intuitive and intellectual (rationalistic) modes of information processing. Journal of General Psychology.111:31& ndash;37,1984. The categories and analytical process, however, are not distinct from any other form of insight. The only difference is the degree of novelty of the stimulus.

In religion

The Pali word for "insight" is " vipassana ", which has been adopted as the name of a kind of Buddhist meditation.

In business

Nigel Bradley points out a recent development in the world of business. There has been the emergence of new departments in corporations which carry the word “Insight” in their titles. We have “ Customer insight|Customer Insight Departments”, Insight Management Unit, Consumer Insight and so on. This extends to the job titles of executives working in those areas. One reason for this development was a realisation that the emphasis of results from individual research projects needed to be shifted to a wider understanding of the dynamics operating in the full market place. Another reason was the impact of information technology. Progress in technology gave way to the availability of masses of information found in databases. The advantages of Insight Management are numerous. By making use of all existing information, there is less need to consult customers, thereby minimising unnecessary contact and
costs.Bradley, Nigel, (2007), Marketing Research: Tools and Techniques , Oxford: Oxford University Press .

In marketing

Pat Conroy, points out that an insight is a statement based on a deep understanding of your target consumer s' attitudes and beliefs, which connect at an emotional level with your consumer, provoking a clear response (''This brand understands me& #33; That is exactly how I feel& #33; & mdash; even if they've never thought about it quite like that) which, when leveraged, has the power to change consumer behavior . Insights must affect a change in consumer behavior that benefits your brand , leading to the achievement of the marketing objective.

Insights can be based on:
# Real or perceived weakness to be exploited in competitive product performance or value
# Attitudinal or perceived barrier in the minds of consumers, regarding your brand
# Untapped or compelling belief or practice

Insights are most effective when they are/do one of the following:
# Unexpected
# Create a disequilibrium
# Change momentum
# Exploited via a benefit or point of difference that your brand can deliver

Copyright Citations

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