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A mental set is our concept of a specific idea, object, or category. It is how we think of something, the stereotypes we have assigned to that something, and our prototypical example. When specifically referring to a mental set in terms of problem solving (a type of thinking), a mental set is a tendency to approach a problem in particular way, usually based on how we approached a similar problem in the past. Maybe you are given a word puzzle, and because the previous example was just converting the alphabet into numbers, you try to look for a similar pattern in this word puzzle; this is a mental set at work. Functional fixedness, which can also be a hindrance to problem solving, is a tendency to only think of the usual uses for an object. For example, you may go fishing, and instead of bringing your tackle box (contains fishing lures, hooks, etc.), you bring a sewing kit. If you are suffering from functional fixedness, you may not consider the fact that you can use a sewing needle as a hook, string as fishing line, and feathers and cloth as fishing lures.

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βˆ™ 13y ago
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βˆ™ 7mo ago

A mental set is a tendency to approach a problem in a certain way based on past experiences, which can sometimes lead to difficulty in finding alternative solutions. Functional fixedness is the tendency to only see objects for their typical or intended use, limiting the ability to think of creative or unconventional uses for them. Both concepts can hinder problem-solving by restricting thinking patterns.

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Q: What is the difference between a mental set and functional fixedness?
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