Kip is a professional auto mechanic whose hobby is restoring old cars. He picked up a classic Thunderbird convertible at an auction, but after spending several weekends tinkering with the engine, he still couldn't figure out what was wrong with it. As he was waking up one morning, he suddenly realized what the problem was. Kip's sudden realization of the problem's solution is an example of:
A)mental set.
B)a heuristic.
C)insight.
D)functional fixedness.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Kip's sudden realization of the solution after spending several weekends tinkering with the engine suggests that he experienced insight, which is a sudden realization of a problem's solution that comes after a period of contemplation or incubation. Mental set refers to a tendency to approach a problem in a particular way, usually one that has been successful in the past, while a heuristic is a mental shortcut or rule-of-thumb that helps solve a problem. Functional fixedness is a tendency to see objects as having only one function or limited uses. None of these concepts fully capture Kip's experience.

Kip Is a Professional Auto Mechanic Whose Hobby Is Restoring