Einstellung effect
nounEtymology Coined by Abraham S. Luchins and Edith Hirsch Luchins in 1942 after publishing a study of their water-jar experiment. Einstellung (“mindset”) is a German borrowing, hence the capitalisation.
1
A problem-solving mindset displayed where a simpler solution for solving a particular problem type is not noticed due to thinking being fixed into a particular logic pattern by earlier repetitions of similar solutions.
- In psychology, the concept of the Einstellung effect is commonly associated with problem solving as the description of one's tendency (mindset) to use a previously learned workable strategy in situations that either can be resolved more efficiently through a different approach or to which the strategy is not applicable at all.2026, Jinfa Cai, Roza Leikin, editors, Research in Mathematical Problem Posing: New Advances and Directions, Springer Nature, →ISBN, page 274:
- Related terms
- Maslow's hammer, if all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail