Question 50

A person who cannot think of an object to substitute for a missing hammer has fallen victim to functional fixedness.

Functional fixedness is a cognitive bias that limits a person’s ability to use an object only in the way it is traditionally used. This restricts the ability to find alternative uses for an object, as seen in the case of someone who cannot think of substitutes for a hammer.

A) confirmation bias

Confirmation bias refers to the tendency to search for, interpret, and remember information that confirms one's preconceptions. This concept does not apply to the inability to find a substitute for a hammer, as it is not about the interpretation of information but rather about the functional use of an object.

B) functional fixedness

Functional fixedness accurately describes the situation where an individual cannot see an alternative use for a hammer, demonstrating a cognitive limitation in problem-solving. This bias inhibits creativity and prevents the person from realizing that other tools can serve the same purpose.

C) the anchoring effect

The anchoring effect is a cognitive bias that occurs when individuals rely too heavily on the first piece of information they encounter (the "anchor") when making decisions. This concept does not pertain to the inability to substitute a missing hammer, as it focuses on decision-making rather than functional usage of objects.

D) overregularization

Overregularization is a linguistic phenomenon where individuals apply regular grammatical rules to irregular cases. This concept is unrelated to the context of substituting objects and does not explain the cognitive blockage experienced when one cannot think of an alternative to a hammer.

E) negative evidence

Negative evidence refers to the absence of certain types of information that could help in learning or decision-making. This option does not relate to the inability to find a substitute for a hammer, as the issue lies in cognitive bias rather than missing information.

Conclusion

Functional fixedness is the correct answer because it specifically addresses the cognitive limitation that prevents individuals from thinking of alternative uses for familiar objects, such as a hammer. All other options are irrelevant to the scenario, as they relate to different cognitive biases or phenomena that do not explain the inability to substitute an object effectively.