functional fixedness

the tendency to perceive an object only in terms of its most common use. For example, people generally perceive cardboard boxes as containers, thus hindering them from potentially flipping the boxes over for use as platforms upon which to place objects (e.g., books). See alternate-uses test.

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Psychology term of the day

May 2nd 2024

initial insomnia

difficulty in falling asleep. Some people with initial insomnia become so worried about being unable to fall asleep or about the effects of loss of sleep that they cannot relax sufficiently to induce sleep. Initial insomnia may be a symptom of a major depressive episode. Also called onset insomnia; sleep-onset insomnia. Compare middle insomnia; terminal insomnia.