Question

which of the following examples best illustrates functional fixedness?
a. adam needs to keep the door open, so he uses his psychology book as a door stop.
b. trey wants to nail a poster up in his room, so he uses his shoe as a hammer.
c. julie lost her earring back, so she throws the earring away instead of using a pencil eraser.
d. morgan uses a wrench as a paper weight while she writes her essay for psychology outdoors.

please select the best answer from the choices provided
a
b
c
d

Explanation:

Define functional fixedness

Functional fixedness is a cognitive bias that limits a person to using an object only in the way it is traditionally used, preventing them from seeing alternative, novel uses for that object to solve a problem.

Analyze the given options

• A: Adam uses a psychology book as a doorstop. This demonstrates overcoming functional fixedness because he finds a novel, non-traditional use for a book.
• B: Trey uses his shoe as a hammer. This demonstrates overcoming functional fixedness because he finds a novel, non-traditional use for a shoe.
• C: Julie throws her earring away instead of using a pencil eraser as a replacement back. This illustrates functional fixedness because she is unable to view the pencil eraser as anything other than its traditional function (erasing pencil marks), failing to see it as a potential earring back.
• D: Morgan uses a wrench as a paperweight. This demonstrates overcoming functional fixedness because she finds a novel, non-traditional use for a wrench.

Identify the best illustration

Options A, B, and D all describe individuals who successfully overcame functional fixedness by using objects in creative, non-traditional ways. Option C is the only scenario that directly illustrates a person being limited by functional fixedness.

Answer:

• (A) Adam needs to keep the door open, so he uses his psychology book as a door stop.
• (B) Trey wants to nail a poster up in his room, so he uses his shoe as a hammer.
• (C) Julie lost her earring back, so she throws the earring away instead of using a pencil eraser. (Correct answer)
• (D) Morgan uses a wrench as a paper weight while she writes her essay for psychology outdoors.