Abstract
We investigated the processes of mental constraints relaxation as a key factor for gaining insight, using a discovery task. In our experiments, we set up four kinds of experimental conditions. First, we introduced three conditions while controlling mental bloking factors: (1) a condition in which subjects searched an incorrect hypothesis space, (2) subjects clung a blocking hypothesis in an incorrect hypothesis space, and (3) subjects gained no constraints as above. Second, based on feedback factors, the condition (2) was subdivided into the following two cases: (2a) a case in which a prediction from a subject's hypothesis missed largely from an experimental result, and (2b) a case in which a prediction and an experimental result were separating gradually. The experimental results showed that finding the target was disturbed more remarkably as stronger blocking factors were given. Especially, when subjects who formed an invalid blocking hypothesis were given only gradual feedback, the subjects' performance of finding the target extremely declined.
