Mental Set

Definition

A mental set is our tendency to approach situations in certain ways because that method worked in the past.

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.