The tendency to think of a hammer as only a tool to hammer nails and not as a weapon, a lever, or a weight to prop open a door is the result of
A) unnecessary constraints.
B) irrelevant information.
C) a mental set.
D) functional fixedness.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Functional fixedness is the cognitive bias or tendency to see an object only in terms of how it is traditionally used, without considering other possible uses or functions. In this case, the tendency to think of a hammer only as a tool to hammer nails is an example of functional fixedness.

The Tendency to Think of a Hammer as Only a Tool