What is functional fixedness?

Functional fixedness refers to the cognitive bias that limits a person to using an object only in the way it is traditionally used. This means individuals may struggle to see alternative uses for items beyond their conventional functions, which can hinder problem-solving and creativity. For example, a person might only think of a hammer as a tool for driving nails, failing to consider it could also be used as a weight or a lever. Recognizing functional fixedness is important because overcoming this bias can lead to more innovative solutions and enhance creative thinking.

The other options do not accurately capture the essence of functional fixedness. While converging ideas for a single solution and framing choices positively focus on specific problem-solving or decision-making strategies, they do not address the limitation of thinking imposed by functional fixedness. Similarly, while a mental set can involve a preconceived approach to problems, it is a broader concept and does not specifically pertain to the restricted thinking about an object's function that functional fixedness describes.