Question 50

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

Functional fixedness refers to the cognitive bias that limits a person to using an object only in the way it is traditionally used, which hinders creative problem-solving when alternatives are available.

A) confirmation bias

Confirmation bias is the tendency to search for, interpret, and remember information in a way that confirms one's preexisting beliefs. This does not relate to the inability to find alternative uses for an object, making this option incorrect.

B) functional fixedness

Functional fixedness accurately describes the situation where an individual is unable to think of alternative uses for an object, such as a hammer. This cognitive limitation can obstruct problem-solving and creativity, confirming that this is the correct answer.

C) the anchoring effect

The anchoring effect occurs when individuals rely too heavily on the first piece of information encountered when making decisions. This concept does not pertain to the inability to find substitutes for tools, thus it is not relevant in this context.

D) overregularization

Overregularization refers to the application of regular grammatical rules to irregular cases, commonly observed in language development. This concept is unrelated to the problem of substituting tools, making it an incorrect choice.

E) negative evidence

Negative evidence pertains to information that indicates what is not true or does not work, often in the context of language acquisition. This does not relate to the cognitive challenge of finding alternative uses for objects, thus this option is also incorrect.

Conclusion

Functional fixedness is the only option that directly addresses the difficulty in thinking of alternative uses for a hammer, emphasizing a cognitive limitation in problem-solving. All other options fail to connect with the scenario of substituting tools, either addressing unrelated cognitive biases or concepts. Therefore, functional fixedness is the definitive answer to the problem presented.