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How children understand aha‐experiences in problem solving

Research output: Contribution to Journal/MagazineJournal articlepeer-review

E-pub ahead of print
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<mark>Journal publication date</mark>17/04/2025
<mark>Journal</mark>British Journal of Developmental Psychology
Publication StatusE-pub ahead of print
Early online date17/04/25
<mark>Original language</mark>English

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.