Restructuring insight: An integrative review of insight in problem-solving, meditation, psychotherapy, delusions and psychedelics
Kadi Tulver, Karl Kristjan Kaup, Ruben Laukkonen, Jaan Aru
November 26, 2021 preprint DOI: 10.31234/osf.io/8fbt9 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review |
|---|---|
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Relevance law Psychotherapist Variety cybernetics Process computing Schizophrenia object-oriented programming Phenomenon Cognition Cognitive science Epistemology Cognitive psychology |
| Citations | 16 |
| Key findings | Insight is a core component in psychotherapy and meditation, a key process underlying delusions in schizophrenia, and a factor in the therapeutic effects of psychedelics, in addition to its well-known role in problem-solving. |
Abstract
Occasionally, a solution or idea arrives as a sudden understanding - an insight. Insight has been considered an “extra” ingredient of creative thinking and problem-solving. Here we propose that insight is central in seemingly distinct areas of research. Drawing on literature from a variety of fields, we show that besides being commonly studied in problem-solving literature, insight is also a core component in psychotherapy and meditation, a key process underlying the emergence of delusions in schizophrenia, and a factor in the therapeutic effects of psychedelics. In each case, we discuss the event of insight and its prerequisites and consequences. We review evidence for the commonalities and differences between the fields and discuss their relevance for capturing the essence of the insight phenomenon. The goal of this integrative review is to bridge the gap between the different views and inspire interdisciplinary research efforts for understanding this central process of human cognition.