The tendency to think of using object only as they have been used in the past is called functional fixedness. Functional fixedness arises when people have a fixed idea of the function of an object, and is unable to see that it may have other uses which would enable them to solve the problem. People tend to see object only in terms of their customary functions. Normal functions of objects become fixed in an individual’s thought, so that he/she does not consider using them in new and creative ways.
Mental set is the tendency to apply a familiar strategy to the solution of a problem without carefully considering special requirements of that problem. A mental set can be either facilitating or inhibiting, depending upon what response the problem requires. Mental set might be determined by personality and attitudinal factors, and not by intellectual and critical thinking abilities. E.g. a child may enter a store by pushing a door open. After this, each time when the child comes to a door expecting it to open by pushing even though may doors only open by pulling. This is due to the mental set for opening the doors.
Wednesday, 11 August 2010
THINKING
Thinking refers to all the mental activities associated with processing, understanding and communicating (Myers, 2000).
Tools of thinking
The two major tools using in thinking process are
a) concept b) imagery
According to ‘David Myers’, concepts are the mental groupings of similar objects, events and people. Concepts provide us much information without much cognitive effort. To simplify things concepts are organized into hierarchies. In addition to that some concepts are formed by definition. E.g. On the basis of the rule that a triangle has three sides, all the three sided geometrical forms is recognized as triangles. Concepts are also formed through the development of prototypes. Prototype is a mental image or a best example that incorporates all the features associated with a category. Prototypes may include positive or negative instances. When a child sees a dog and forms the mental image, “it is a dog”, then it is a positive instance. When the child sees a goat and discriminate it forming the mental image “it is not a dog”, then it is a negative instance.
Concepts are of two types – logical and natural. Logical concepts (or formal concepts) are those which are clearly defined by a set of rules, a formal definition or a classification system. It is also called artificial concept. E.g. mathematical symbols like triangles, rectangle, square etc. Natural concepts are those acquired not from a definition, but through every-day perceptions and experience. They are somewhat fuzzy, not clear cut and systematic. Imagery is the mental representation of sensory experiences. It can be visual, auditory, gustatory, motor, olfactory or tactile. E.g. Imagination of tasting favorite ice cream is a gustatory imagery. Mental images may be dimmer and less vivid than actual experiences. Though the images are not limited to time, space or other physical realities, they used to be similar to that of the real world. Visual imagery is most common form of imagery. Imagery about performance has impact on the muscles, and the consequence is muscular imagery.
Tools of thinking
The two major tools using in thinking process are
a) concept b) imagery
According to ‘David Myers’, concepts are the mental groupings of similar objects, events and people. Concepts provide us much information without much cognitive effort. To simplify things concepts are organized into hierarchies. In addition to that some concepts are formed by definition. E.g. On the basis of the rule that a triangle has three sides, all the three sided geometrical forms is recognized as triangles. Concepts are also formed through the development of prototypes. Prototype is a mental image or a best example that incorporates all the features associated with a category. Prototypes may include positive or negative instances. When a child sees a dog and forms the mental image, “it is a dog”, then it is a positive instance. When the child sees a goat and discriminate it forming the mental image “it is not a dog”, then it is a negative instance.
Concepts are of two types – logical and natural. Logical concepts (or formal concepts) are those which are clearly defined by a set of rules, a formal definition or a classification system. It is also called artificial concept. E.g. mathematical symbols like triangles, rectangle, square etc. Natural concepts are those acquired not from a definition, but through every-day perceptions and experience. They are somewhat fuzzy, not clear cut and systematic. Imagery is the mental representation of sensory experiences. It can be visual, auditory, gustatory, motor, olfactory or tactile. E.g. Imagination of tasting favorite ice cream is a gustatory imagery. Mental images may be dimmer and less vivid than actual experiences. Though the images are not limited to time, space or other physical realities, they used to be similar to that of the real world. Visual imagery is most common form of imagery. Imagery about performance has impact on the muscles, and the consequence is muscular imagery.
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