Useful fixedness is when folks can solely consider conventional methods of utilizing objects. It’s a kind of cognitive bias that forestalls folks from considering exterior of the field and creating inventive options.
When you’ve gotten a selected instrument, you may have a look at it by way of how it’s historically used.
A screwdriver, for instance, is for loosening or tightening a screw. However you may additionally use a screwdriver as a chisel, pry bar, gap punch, or scraper.
Useful fixedness may forestall you from considering of different methods to make use of such instruments and objects to attain your targets and attain novel options.
How Useful Fixedness Works
Useful fixedness limits an individual’s capability to provide you with novel options for methods to make use of acquainted objects. As a substitute of excited about all the ways in which an object could possibly be used, this bias leads folks to give attention to the ways in which it’s historically utilized.
Due to this give attention to typical makes use of, an individual may miss different options. This will create obstacles to efficient problem-solving. As a substitute of having the ability to look past the best way issues are often achieved, folks get caught in outdated patterns and methods of considering that maintain them again and stop innovation.
Examples of Useful Fixedness
Useful fixedness is a cognitive bias that limits an individual to utilizing an object solely in the best way it’s historically used. In psychology, some examples of practical fixedness embody:
Candle Drawback
On this basic instance of practical fixedness, persons are given a candle, matches, and thumbtacks. They’re then tasked with attaching the candle to a wall to be lit with out dripping wax onto the ground.
The answer is to empty the field of matches and use the matches to soften the underside of the candle and stick it to the underside of the field. Then, tack the field to the wall with the thumbtacks and use it as a candle holder. Nonetheless, due to practical fixedness, folks typically solely see the field as a container for the matches.
Two String Drawback
One other instance of practical fixedness is named the 2 string downside. Individuals are given two strings hanging from the ceiling and are tasked with tying them collectively. The strings are far sufficient aside that an individual can not attain each on the identical time. Nonetheless, persons are additionally given different objects, reminiscent of pliers and a hook.
Folks with better practical fixedness may battle to see that they will tie one string to the pliers and swing the string, permitting them to seize the opposite string after which catch the opposite string of their reverse hand when it swings again towards them.
What Causes Useful Fixedness?
There are a selection of cognitive elements that may contribute to practical fixedness.
Perceptual Set
Perceptual set refers back to the tendency to understand sure points of a stimulus whereas ignoring others. Our perceptions of objects are closely influenced by our expectations that previous experiences have formed. Due to this, we frequently see objects by way of their acquainted makes use of.
Rigid Pondering
Individuals who lack cognitive flexibility might battle with inflexible considering patterns. This will make it tough to method issues creatively.
Stimulus Modality
Researchers have discovered that how info is offered can impression practical fixedness. When folks encounter an image of an object, they’re extra more likely to attempt to reproduce these photographs when participating in inventive duties, even when they don’t result in the very best outcomes.
Alternatively, individuals who simply see the names of the objects usually tend to provide you with extra inventive options which can be much less influenced by practical fixedness.
What Are the Results of Useful Fixedness?
Useful fixedness can have a unfavorable impression on problem-solving and decision-making. Some potential challenges it would create embody:
Poor Drawback-Fixing
As a result of practical fixedness limits your choices, you’re much less more likely to provide you with different options to issues. For instance, if you’re attempting to pry one thing open however don’t have a pry bar, you may not acknowledge {that a} hammer may be used for such a objective since you are considering of it solely by way of its conventional use.
Lack of Innovation and Creativity
When your considering is fastened in a sure sample, it’s a lot tougher to assume creatively. This will hinder your progress and result in an absence of innovation.
Poor Use of Assets
Solely utilizing issues based mostly on their anticipated or conventional use can result in inefficiency and waste. Since you’re overlooking different makes use of, you may spend extra on supplies or objects that you simply don’t really want.
Missed Alternatives
As a result of practical fixedness limits enchancment, folks might miss out on alternatives to optimize their state of affairs. As a substitute of succeeding in a process and transferring ahead, they keep caught on the identical downside for too lengthy.
It’s necessary to acknowledge that practical fixedness isn’t at all times a nasty factor. Typically, it helps folks clear up issues extra effectively in ways in which typically work as anticipated. Recognizing when this cognitive bias may be holding you again (and taking steps to reduce it) might help make sure that it doesn’t hinder your creativity or problem-solving skills.
How Can You Keep away from Useful Fixedness?
Some analysis suggests that incorrect data about how instruments work can contribute to practical fixedness. The identical examine prompt that whereas practical fixedness could make problem-solving harder, creating higher problem-solving expertise might help folks get round it.
With the intention to keep away from practical fixedness, it is very important turn into extra conscious of it and take steps to consciously assume extra exterior the field.
Brainstorm Alternate options
Break the issue down into its most simple parts after which brainstorm potential options. Let your creativeness run, and assume up as many inventive concepts as you’ll be able to. When you’ve provide you with some concepts, have a look at them with a vital eye to contemplate which of them may be essentially the most viable.
Search Differing Viewpoints
Discuss to folks with totally different backgrounds and experiences to be taught extra about how they may method the issue. Contemplate collaborating with teams of people that can carry differing sorts of experience to the desk. This might help promote new concepts and contemporary insights you may not have thought of in any other case.
Observe Mindfulness
Turning into extra conscious of your personal preconceptions and assumptions will also be useful. Work on changing into extra aware and conscious of your personal considering patterns and the way your emotional states may affect your selections and decision-making.
Foster Curiosity
Attempt to preserve an open thoughts about new concepts. Ask questions and take into consideration how a few of these new concepts may contribute to your personal problem-solving and decision-making methods. This might help construct better cognitive flexibility, which can in the end assist scale back practical fixedness.
Have a look at Errors as Studying Alternatives
Keep in mind that errors will be informative. Don’t maintain again from attempting new issues. As a substitute, give your self the liberty to experiment with inventive options, and keep in mind which you can at all times attempt once more if issues don’t go as anticipated.
Key Factors to Keep in mind
- Useful fixedness is a cognitive bias the place an individual’s earlier data of how an object usually capabilities limits how they may use it in several conditions.
- It will possibly negatively have an effect on problem-solving by limiting how folks use instruments or objects in novel conditions.
- Previous experiences, cognitive inflexibility, and stimulus modality can all contribute to practical fixedness.
- To beat practical fixedness and enhance problem-solving, folks can brainstorm different options, search numerous views, construct self-awareness, foster creativity, and be taught from errors.
Sources:
Chrysikou, E. G., Motyka, Okay., Nigro, C., Yang, S. I., & Thompson-Schill, S. L. (2016). Useful Fixedness in Artistic Pondering Duties Depends upon Stimulus Modality. Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts, 10(4), 425–435. https://doi.org/10.1037/aca0000050
Ibáñez de Aldecoa, P., de Wit, S., & Tebbich, S. (2021). Can habits impede creativity by inducing fixation? Frontiers in Psychology, 12683024. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.683024
Kroneisen, M., Kriechbaumer, M., Kamp, S. M., & Erdfelder, E. (2021). How can I exploit it? The function of practical fixedness within the survival-processing paradigm. Psychonomic Bulletin & Evaluation, 28(1), 324–332. https://doi.org/10.3758/s13423-020-01802-y
Munoz-Rubke, F., Olson, D., Will, R., & James, Okay. H. (2018). Useful fixedness in instrument use: Studying modality, limitations and particular person variations. Acta Psychologica, 19011–26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2018.06.006