Matthew sees a nail sticking out from a board which he wishes to push inside. Though there is a brick lying nearby, it does not occur to him that it can serve well to fix the nail. Consequently, he wastes time searching for a hammer. Which of the following does Matthew exhibit?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Matthew exhibits functional fixedness, which is the inability to see an object being used for something other than what it is traditionally used for. In this case, he couldn't see the brick as a tool to push the nail in because he was fixated on the traditional use of a hammer for that purpose.

Matthew Sees a Nail Sticking Out from a Board Which