Question

Which of the following best represents a mental set?

1) using a pair of pliers as a paperweight
2) using a tire as a swing seat and as football practice target
3) using a juice glass as a container for orange juice
4) using a wine bottle as a vase

Answer 1

A mental set is best shown by a person repeatedly attempting to leave a room through a locked doorway, ignoring other open exits.

Step-by-step explanation:

A mental set refers to the tendency to approach problems in a certain way because that method has worked in the past, even if it is not applicable in the current situation. In the context of the scenario provided, a mental set is best represented by a person who keeps trying to exit a room through a previously open doorway that's now locked, despite other doorways being available. This indicates a fixed pattern of behavior where past success inhibits one's ability to find alternative solutions. An example of a mental set is using a square peg for a square hole and a round peg for a round hole in a children's toy. Just like how we tend to try using the same doorway to exit a room, even when it's locked.