Mental Set
Definition
A mental set is our tendency to approach situations in certain ways because that method worked in the past.
Analogy
Imagine if you always take the same route home from school because it's been the fastest way before. But one day there's heavy traffic on this route. Despite knowing about other routes, you stick with your usual path because it has worked before - this is like having a mental set.
Related terms
Functional Fixedness: The inability to see an object as useful for any other use other than the one for which it was intended.
Confirmation Bias: The tendency to search for information that confirms our preconceptions while ignoring or devaluing information that contradicts them.
Perseveration: The repetition of a particular response (such as a word, phrase, or gesture) despite its lack of relevance in the current context.
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