Graham Wallas

Graham Wallas was a social scientist and researcher known for his work on creativity and problem-solving. He proposed a four-stage model describing how people come up with ideas: (1) Preparation—gathering information and understanding the problem; (2) Incubation—mentally relaxing or stepping away from the problem; (3) Illumination—having a moment of insight or a “eureka” moment; and (4) Verification—refining and testing the idea. His model highlights that creative solutions often come through a process of preparation, subconscious thought, and careful evaluation, emphasizing that creativity is a structured process rather than just spontaneous inspiration.