Question

Amber lives in a housing development between two parallel streets that both connect to a freeway. She usually takes the street to the south when heading southbound on the freeway to work, but that street is closed for repairs for three months. Amber takes the street to the north during that time. After the street to the south is re-opened, she continues to take the street to the north, even though it is a slightly longer route. Continuing to take the street to the north representsa. a single dissociation.b. a source problem.c. a mental set.d. convergent thinking.

Answer 1

Answer: C. a mental set

Explanation: The development of a rigid perception or inclination about the a methodology or approach simply because such approach has proved efficient at a certain point in time. The persistence in the use and application of this past idea or approach even when it is no longer the most efficient could be said to be caused by a mental set. In the context above, the street to the north provided a route for Amber after the street to the south was closed. Having used the route for three months during the closure period of the shorter street to the south, Amber developed a mental set causing him to be inclined or attached to taking the street to the north even after the shorter southern street was reopened.