<p>This is called the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Einstellung_effect" rel="noreferrer">Einstellung effect</a>:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>...Einstellung refers to a person's predisposition to solve a given problem in a specific manner even though "better" or more appropriate methods of solving the problem exist</p>
</blockquote>

<p>It is related to the idea of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Functional_fixedness" rel="noreferrer">functional fixedness</a>:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Functional fixedness is a cognitive bias that limits a person to using an object only in the way it is traditionally used. `</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-01T04:46:01.830Z
2015-01-01T04:46:01.830Z
Jeff
<p>Once I "learned" for a condition in which you have a specific solution of a problem, but you are only thinking of it and do not realize there are other / probably more appropriate / solutions. Something like.. being stuck to an attempt of a solution.</p>

<hr>

<p>So there was a name for it. But google results for tokens such as "Problem Solving Disease" lead me to nothing related.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-01T12:08:01.757Z
One technical term is cognitive rigidity, and CRT (Cognitive remediation therapy) works to increase flexibility
jiniyt
<cognitive-psychology><social-psychology><conditioning>
What do you call the inability to see alternative solutions to a problem?
Corelation
# What do you call the inability to see alternative solutions to a problem?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-01-01)

Once I "learned" for a condition in which you have a specific solution of a problem, but you are only thinking of it and do not realize there are other / probably more appropriate / solutions. Something like.. being stuck to an attempt of a solution.

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So there was a name for it. But google results for tokens such as "Problem Solving Disease" lead me to nothing related.

**Tags:** cognitive-psychology, social-psychology, conditioning

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: One technical term is cognitive rigidity, and CRT (Cognitive remediation therapy) works to increase flexibility  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2015-01-01. Score: 6 | Accepted answer

This is called the [Einstellung effect](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Einstellung_effect):

> ...Einstellung refers to a person's predisposition to solve a given problem in a specific manner even though "better" or more appropriate methods of solving the problem exist

It is related to the idea of [functional fixedness](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Functional_fixedness):

> Functional fixedness is a cognitive bias that limits a person to using an object only in the way it is traditionally used. `


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