Question

Which problem below provides an example of how functional fixedness can hinder solution of a problem?

1) Tower of Hanoi problem
2) Two-string problem
3) Mutilated checkerboard problem
4) The General

Answer 1

The Two-string problem illustrates how functional fixedness hinders problem-solving by preventing individuals from considering unconventional uses for objects.

Step-by-step explanation:

Functional fixedness can hinder problem-solving when one cannot envision using an object in a way other than its intended purpose. Example 2, the Two-string problem, provides a situation where functional fixedness is evident. In this problem, the task is to tie together two strings that are hanging from the ceiling. However, the strings are positioned such that a person holding one string cannot reach the other one. The solution requires using objects in the room in unconventional ways, such as using a pair of pliers as a weight to create a pendulum with one string. Functional fixedness would cause a hindrance if the individuals only see the pliers as a tool for gripping and not as a potential weight.

To overcome functional fixedness, one must be able to look at objects and think creatively about their potential uses. This cognitive barrier was illustrated during the Apollo 13 mission, where NASA engineers had to creatively use available materials to construct a life-saving carbon dioxide filter. Experiment with the Shuar group in Ecuador also shows that functional fixedness affects people in both industrialized and nonindustrialized cultures.

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