mental set

1. a temporary readiness to perform certain psychological functions that influences the response to a situation or stimulus, such as the tendency to apply a previously successful technique in solving a new problem. It is often determined by instructions but need not be. Essentially synonymous with the older term Einstellung, mental set is the embodiment of the earlier concepts of Aufgabe and determining tendency.

2. the situation in which a preparedness to perform one type of task causes a decrement in the ability to perform on some other category of task. See task switching.

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Psychology term of the day

January 31st 2025

concomitance

1. the co-occurrence of two or more phenomena, especially such that the phenomena are essentially different manifestations of a single underlying reality. For example, a symbol and its meaning may be concomitant. According to Jungian psychology, synchronous events may be concomitant in this way (see synchronicity).

2. in statistics and experimental psychology, a co-occurrence between a response or outcome variable and a variable other than a predictor of interest. —concomitant adj.