water-jug problem

a problem-solving task in which participants are asked how they would measure out a specific amount of water using a number of jugs (often three) of specified capacity. For example, they might be asked to obtain exactly 39 ml of water using jugs that hold 207 ml, 165 ml, and 42 ml. Actual jugs are not usually provided. Also called water-jar problem. [used to investigate the Einstellung effect by U.S. psychologist Abraham S. Luchins and U.S. mathematician and psychologist Edith H. Luchins (1922–2005)]

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Psychology term of the day

March 16th 2025

state-dependent behavior

actions that are affected by one’s emotional state, such as saying something hurtful to another while angry.