Work

How children understand aha‐experiences in problem solving

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: 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.

Source: British Journal of Developmental Psychology

DOI: 10.1111/bjdp.12565

Authors: Josefine Haugen, Mathilde H. Prenevost, Ida B. R. Nilsen, Evalill Bølstad, Francisco Pons, Rolf Reber

Institutions: Norwegian Institute of Public Health, University of Oslo, Lancaster University, Stockholm University

Language: English

Topic: Child and Animal Learning Development

Subfield: Developmental and Educational Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,400

Funder: Norges Forskningsråd