Restructuring (thought psychology)

Restructuring is a solution process in which "the overall psychological structure of the problem situation changes".

Structure of a problem

With psychological forest said Karl Duncker the internal representation of the problem situation, d. H. the way in which one imagines the problem situation. In the case of a linguistic problem , this depends on what kind of inner picture of the problem situation is generated from the text that has been heard or read. In the case of a visual problem (i.e. with a picture or sketch), this is also dependent on visual perception .

Problem solving through restructuring

According to Karl Duncker , problem solving through restructuring requires a conflict analysis and a situation analysis to be carried out. A thinking problem exists e.g. B. when a spontaneous attempted solution is recognized as wrong. A conflict analysis should answer the question of why the attempted solution failed. Situation analysis deals with the elements of a situation and their mutual relationships. As a result of these analyzes, the solution is found not through trial and error , but through insight .

The right solution is usually found suddenly ( aha experience ).

example

Problem defined by text and sketch

Instructions: A man comes to a river and sees only one boat with two children playing. The kids would love to help him get over, but if an adult gets on the boat, there won't be room for a child.

Question: How can the man still drive over so that nobody has to go into the water and the children have their boat back in the end?

Text with sketch no. 1: The restructuring is more difficult because in the sketch the two children are already in the boat and one of them has to get out before the boat leaves.

Text with sketch no. 8: The restructuring is easier because the boat can leave immediately.

Individual evidence

^ Karl Duncker : On the psychology of productive thinking . Springer, Berlin 1935, p. 34 .
↑ Hans-Werner Hunziker : Plasticity as a factor in overcoming tension in mental tasks. A field theoretical and factor analytical investigation of the restructuring of problematic situations . In: Journal for Experimental and Applied Psychology . tape 11 , issue 2. Springer, Berlin 1964.

[1] Karl Duncker : On the psychology of productive thinking . Springer, Berlin 1935, p. 34 .

[2] Hans-Werner Hunziker : Plasticity as a factor in overcoming tension in mental tasks. A field theoretical and factor analytical investigation of the restructuring of problematic situations . In: Journal for Experimental and Applied Psychology . tape 11 , issue 2. Springer, Berlin 1964.