Final answer:
Functional fixedness is a cognitive bias that limits a person's ability to use objects in ways other than their intended purpose, posing challenges to problem-solving. Examples include Duncker's candle problem and the Apollo 13 mission. Research indicates that this bias affects people across different cultures.
Step-by-step explanation:
Functional fixedness is a type of mental set which refers to the inability to see an object as useful for any other use than the one for which it was intended. This cognitive bias restricts a person's ability to use objects in novel ways, which can be a significant barrier to problem-solving. Duncker's classic experiment demonstrates this phenomenon where participants had difficulties realizing a box of thumbtacks could also serve as a stand for a candle. The Apollo 13 incident is another example where overcoming functional fixedness was critical for the survival of the astronauts.
Research by German & Barrett in 2005 expanded the understanding of functional fixedness by examining if culture affects this cognitive bias. Their study suggested that both industrialized and nonindustrialized cultures experience functional fixedness, although exposure to highly specialized tools might influence one's propensity for functional fixedness.
Understanding functional fixedness is essential as it is related to cognition, problem solving, mental sets, and can be linked to the broader fields of cognitive psychology and the study of human intelligence and creativity.