Question

Ronald needs to use a stapler as a paperweight to solve a problem but he just can't think about a stapler in a way that differs from its primary purpose. It seems like Ronald is suffering from

A. a mental heuristic.
B. false memories.
C. functional fixedness.
D. a lack of insight.
E. usage of a script.

Answer 1

Ronald is struggling with functional fixedness, a cognitive bias preventing him from using a stapler as anything other than its intended purpose.

Step-by-step explanation:

Ronald is experiencing functional fixedness, which is a cognitive bias that limits a person to using an object only in the way it is traditionally used. This concept was investigated by Duncker (1945) and is a known barrier to problem-solving, as it prevents individuals from seeing the full range of uses for an object. A famous example of overcoming this bias is the makeshift air filter created by NASA engineers during the Apollo 13 mission, where they used spare materials in an unconventional way to save the astronauts. Heuristics, on the other hand, are mental shortcuts, like 'rules of thumb', that make decision-making processes quicker but not necessarily accurate, as they can lead to errors in judgment or problem-solving.