Question

Functional fixedness

A. is only found in industrialized countries.
B. is the most effective tool for solving all problems.
C. is exceptionally uncommon but is still an important topic to study in cognitive psychology.
D. results in difficulty thinking flexibly.
E. none of the above

Answer 1

Functional fixedness is the cognitive bias of being unable to see an object's use beyond its intended purpose, which impedes flexible thinking. It occurs globally across cultures.

Step-by-step explanation:

The concept of functional fixedness refers to the inability to perceive an object being used for something other than what it was designed for. This cognitive bias is not specific to industrialized nations, as it has been observed in both industrialized and nonindustrialized cultures, indicating that it is a general phenomenon in human cognition. Overcoming functional fixedness can be critical for problem-solving, as highlighted by the creative solutions developed by NASA engineers during the Apollo 13 crisis. Therefore, the correct answer to the question would be D. results in difficulty thinking flexibly.