An executive's chair has begun to wobble because a screw has gotten a little loose, so he calls the maintenance department. His inability to realize that a dime from his pocket could also be used as a screwdriver is an example of

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This is an example of functional fixedness, which is the inability to see an object being used for something other than what it was designed for. In this case, the executive fails to see that a dime could be used as a makeshift screwdriver to tighten the screw.  This is a mental block that keeps us from perceiving a new function (as a screwdriver) for an object usually used otherwise (the dime). This fixedness inhibits problems solving.

An Executive's Chair Has Begun to Wobble Because a Screw