Problem-solving involves both cognitive and physiological changes. Since most prior work has focused on examining the cognitive side of problem-solving, there is more to explore on the physiological side, including skin conductance. The present study examined skin conductance reactivity (SCR) to the moment participants solved three different types…

How do people come up with humorous ideas? In creative cognition research, exposure to good examples sometimes causes fixation (people get "stuck" on the examples) but other times sparks inspiration (people's responses are more creative). The present research examined the effects of funny and unfunny examples on joke production. A sample…

Our study explored: (a) the feasibility of prescribing laughter to university students; (b) the efficacy of the prescription on creativity, well-being, affect, and academic efficacy (AE); and (c) the practicality of the Applied Creativity Test (ACT) conceived for this study. A convenience sample of healthy students (n = 70) aged 18-28 (78% female;…

Listed and described are 10 types of humor in art, including homomorphic rhyme, metamorphic rhyme, radical juxtaposition, displacement and exaggeration. (CL)

This descriptive study compared 13 definitions of humor and 11 theories of humor as related to creativity. It found two core definitional themes (integration and incongruity) and three core theoretical categories (play/spontaneity, release/relief, and incongruity/unexpected relationships). Tables provide comparative analyses of definitions and…

The article focuses on the relationship between the primary process and the creative process, especially as it relates to the fields of wit and poetry. Examples of identification based on similarity in schizophrenics are presented. (CL)

Author attempted to present a reasonable description of the film, Easy Street, with major antics numbered, then analyzed those in terms of Duncker and Koestler, thereby extending the latter's theory of bisociation. (Author/RK)

The article discusses the concept of inspiration as a component of creativity, including environmental influences, affective self-awareness, effective verbal communication to preserve inspired experiences, and the role of humor. The creative problem-solving process is also addressed, with attention to divergent thinking strategies and the practice…

The study with 100 families found that parents of highly creative adolescents tended to be very interested in their children's behavior but seldom proscribed rules to govern it. Other results suggested the critical importance of environment, the existence of critical periods, and the importance of humor. (DB)