Can a relational mindset boost analogical retrieval?

ABSTRACT:

Background

Memory retrieval is driven by similarity between a present situation and some prior experience, but not all similarity is created equal. Analogical retrieval, rooted in the similarity between two situations in their underlying structural relations, is often responsible for new insights and innovative solutions to problems. However, superficial similarity is instead more likely to drive spontaneous retrieval. How can we make analogical retrieval more likely? Inducing a relational mindset via an analogical reasoning task has previously been shown to boost subsequent relational thinking. In this paper, we examined whether inducing a relational mindset could also boost analogical retrieval.

Results

We find that a relational mindset can increase analogical retrieval if

SUBMITTER: Goldwater MB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6923295 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature