Building a Bookshelf and Dealing with Itchy Back
What happened when Leini was building a bookshelf in her backyard?
Leini is working on building a bookshelf in her backyard when she gets a terrible itch on her back. She gripes about not being able to reach it.
What did Leini try to find to scratch her back?
She goes inside to look for a back-scratcher or a kitchen spoon.
Why did Leini not use the hammer she was holding in her hand to scratch her back?
She could have just used the hammer she was holding in her hand, but she didn’t think of that.
What psychological concept is illustrated by Leini not using the hammer to scratch her back?
This is an example of________.
Answer
functional fixedness
Explanation: Functional fixedness is a psychological concept when a person's ability to use a particular object to perform a task is restricted when that object is traditionally used for a specific kind of work. For example, a kitchen knife is used to cut vegetables and fruits in the kitchen. So a person with functional fixedness will not use that knife for other purposes other than cutting vegetables in the kitchen. It limits the use of a tool or object for a different purpose other than using it traditionally. It originated in Gestalt psychology. Thus, the answer to the question is functional fixedness.