mental set
Habitual thinking pattern
Mental set is a tendency to approach problems using strategies that worked before, even when better solutions exist.
The mind falls into familiar patterns, making it harder to see alternatives.
A mental set can be efficient when old methods still apply, but it becomes an obstacle when a situation calls for fresh thinking: Her mental set kept her solving every puzzle the same way.
- thinking capMetaphorical concentration aid
- fixationPersistent mental attachment
- rigidityState of being unbending
- one-track mindSingular mental focus
- cognitiveRelating to thinking
problem-solving · stuck · habit · creature of habit · assumption · framework · perspective · bias · expectation · pattern · thinking · block · preset · inflexible · routine · same old same old · comfort zone · approach
- GestaltGestalt, Gestalt therapy, figure-ground, closure, proximity
mental setflexible thinking
Ability to shift perspectives
cognitive flexibility · mental flexibility · open-mindedness · mental agility · adaptability
mental setlateral thinking
Indirect problem-solving approach
divergent thinking · creative problem-solving · thinking outside the box · fresh perspective · insight
mental setbeginner's mind
Unencumbered openness to learning
fresh perspective · tabula rasa · blank slate · childlike wonder · receptivity
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