The Phenomenon of Hint in Problem Solving: a Creativity Psychology Point of View. Part 1. Priming Effects

Abstract

The paper presents a review of studies of hints in problem solving undertaken from a psychology of creativity position. Studies of hint priming in elementary cognitive tasks and those of hinting in complex problem-solving tasks are compared. A short review of priming types is given, and studies of sensitivity to priming at different creativity levels and under different types of creative set are presented. The authors describe presetting as a specific type of priming that is not associated with task solution by content. Studies of emotional and motivational, cognitive, and somatic presetting that improves problem solving are reviewed. Theories of the mechanisms behind this priming effect are described.