Cosmo worked on a difficult calculus problem for several hours to no avail. He decided to take a break from his labors by taking a bath. Midway through his bath, he jumped up and shouted, "Eureka, I solved the problem!" He then ran to his desk and made the calculations. Cosmo allowed __________ to help him overcome the __________ that impeded solution.
A)incubation; mental sets
B)a rest period; functional fixedness
C)insight; mental sets
D)incubation; functional fixedness

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Incubation, a process where a problem is set aside for a while but unconsciously thought about, can help overcome mental sets, which are fixed ways of thinking that can impede problem-solving.

Cosmo Worked on a Difficult Calculus Problem for Several Hours