Studies of Psychology and Behavior ›› 2026, Vol. 24 ›› Issue (1): 32-39.DOI: 10.12139/j.1672-0628.2026.01.004

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The Incubation Effect Mechanism of Prototype Inspiration in Divergent Thinking

Qingqing LI1,2, Yan WEI1, Aibao ZHOU*,1()   

  1. 1. School of Psychology, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070
    2. School of Education, Lanzhou University of Arts and Science, Lanzhou 730010
  • Received:2025-03-22 Online:2026-01-20 Published:2026-01-20
  • Contact: Aibao ZHOU

发散思维中原型启发的酝酿效应机制

李青青1,2, 魏燕1, 周爱保*,1()   

  1. 1. 西北师范大学心理学院,兰州 730070
    2. 兰州文理学院教育学院,兰州 730010
  • 通讯作者: 周爱保
  • 基金资助:
    国家自然科学基金地区项目(32160202)。

Abstract:

This study employed the metaphor production task to investigate the interaction mechanism between prototype types and the incubation effect. Study 1 adopted a 3 (prototype types: known-uninteresting, incongruity-resolving, unknown-strange)×2 (paradigm category: no-incubation, with-incubation) mixed design. Results showed that the incongruity-resolving prototype significantly enhanced originality and flexibility under the no-incubation condition. However, the other two prototypes performed better under the with-incubation condition. To further explore the interaction between prototype types and the incubation effect, Study 2 utilized a classic incubation paradigm, employing a 3 (prototype types: known-uninteresting, incongruity-resolving, unknown-strange)×3 (incubation paradigm: immediate-incubation, delayed-incubation, no-incubation) mixed design. The findings confirmed that immediate incubation strengthened the role of prototype inspiration, with the incongruity-resolving prototype demonstrating the best creative thinking performance under the immediate-incubation condition.

Key words: divergent thinking, creative thinking, prototype inspiration, paradigm category, incubation effect

摘要:

采用隐喻生成任务探究原型类型与酝酿效应的交互机制。研究1采用3(原型类型:已知无趣、失谐解困、未知陌生)×2(范式类别:无酝酿、有酝酿)混合实验设计,发现失谐解困在无酝酿下显著提升独创性与灵活性,但其他两种原型在有酝酿条件下表现更优。为进一步探究原型类型与酝酿效应的交互作用,研究2采用经典的酝酿范式,3(原型类型:已知无趣、失谐解困、未知陌生)×3(酝酿范式:即时酝酿、延时酝酿、无酝酿)混合实验设计,证实即时酝酿强化了原型作用,失谐解困在即时酝酿中表现最佳。

关键词: 发散思维, 创造性思维, 原型启发, 范式类别, 酝酿效应