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A toothpick is a toothpick. It can't be used for anything except to pick your teeth. This person is experiencing:

a. Functional fixedness
b. Divergent thinking
c. Convergent thinking
d. Algorithmic thinking

1 Answer

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Final answer:

Functional fixedness is a mental set that limits creative problem-solving, while divergent thinking allows for multiple solutions. Someone who believes a toothpick can only be used to pick teeth is experiencing functional fixedness.

Step-by-step explanation:

Functional fixedness is a phenomenon where individuals cannot perceive an object being used for something other than its intended purpose. It is a type of mental set that limits creative problem-solving. Divergent thinking, on the other hand, refers to the ability to generate multiple solutions to a given problem, while convergent thinking focuses on finding a single correct answer or solution.

In the case of a toothpick, someone who believes it can only be used to pick teeth is experiencing functional fixedness, as they are unable to consider other possible uses. This type of thinking can limit creativity and problem-solving abilities.

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