Solving insight problems : how watching funny video-clips can improve creative thinking

Abstract

The goal of the research was to establish if there is a difference in people’s performance on insight problems solving test if they have been exposed to a funny video-clip and a neutral video-clip prior to the testing. The study also looked at the correlation between positive mood and insight problems solving as well as on the domain specificity of the insight problems. Forty-five adult subjects participated in the study. An experiment revealed that participants who have watched a funny video-clip scored slightly but not significantly better than participants who have watched a neutral video-clip. However, medium positive correlation was found between participants’ good mood and the amount of insight problem solved. No evidence for domain specificity of insight problems has been found. The limitations and implications of the study are discussed.