Author Thomas Wolfe [1936] described his creation of three books as follows: “It was a progress that began in a whirling vortex and a creative chaos and that proceeded slowly at the expense of infinite confusion, toil, and error toward clarification and the articulation of an ordered and formal structure. . . With a kind of hurricane violence that could not be held in check, . . . the storm did break . . . It came in torrents, and it is not over yet.”
“The flame of conception seems to flare and go out, leaving a man shaken, and at once happy and afraid. There’s plenty of precedent of course. Everyone knows about Newton’s [apocryphal] apple. Charles Darwin said his Origin of Species flashed complete in one second, and he spent the rest of his life backing it up; and the theory of relativity occurred to Einstein in the time it takes to clap your hands. This is the greatest mystery of the human mind -- the inductive leap. Everything falls into place, irrelevancies relate, dissonance becomes harmony, and nonsense wears a crown of meaning.” [writer John Steinbeck, 1954; cited by Calvin, 1986]
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Conditions Favoring Insight
Perhaps the most valuable result of Platt and Baker’s [1931] survey of scientists was its recognition that certain conditions favor achievement of insight:
• Define the problem. The more specific one can be in identifying the paradox or problem, the better is one’s chance of success. Describing the problem to others sometimes helps, because it forces the researcher to define the problem simply. Sometimes one can solve the larger problem piecemeal by obtaining confident solutions for components of the problem. Yet discrepant observations must not be overlooked. Do the partial solutions suggest that other facts are needed, do they suggest analogies, or do they have an impact on other partial solutions or facts? An exam-taking strategy can be useful here: start with the easiest problems, then work up to the harder ones. This strategy helps build momentum and confidence and it avoids overwhelming the researcher with the magnitude of the problems.
• Complete the initial stage of preparation. Killeffer [1969] calls this step accumulation, emphasizing the role of accumulating needed facts. One cannot expect to solve the problem unless the relevant information is available and comprehended. Furthermore, the facts must be organized. Indeed, the juxtaposition of certain facts can provide the mental connection needed for insight, so it may be worthwhile to try arranging the facts in different ways. Sketching or outlining the relationships may help. Mental images may help. Many scientists find that writing a scientific paper triggers insights, because it forces us to organize data, assumptions, and inferences much more systematically than we do mentally. Sometimes one of our assumptions is the obstacle to insight; deliberately listing and challenging all assumptions may help. In summary, preparation includes accumulation, comprehension, evaluation, and organization of data, assumptions, and inferences.
• Desire a solution. Having a personal stake in a problem can help or hinder insight; usually it is a strong asset. Preoccupation with the quest keeps the problem churning through one’s conscious thoughts and subconscious, providing the needed stage of incubation. Desire for a solution becomes counterproductive if it leads to distracting worry and anxiety. Thus some researchers are
