What term refers to the inability to see or define a problem from a fresh point of view?

The term that best describes the inability to see or define a problem from a fresh point of view is fixation. Fixation occurs when an individual becomes stuck in a particular way of thinking or solving a problem, which hinders their ability to consider alternative perspectives. This mental block can prevent the person from recognizing new approaches or solutions, even if they are available.

In cognitive psychology, fixation can manifest in various ways, such as being overly reliant on past experiences or habitual methods. When faced with a challenge, a fixed mindset can limit creativity and innovation, as it confines the individual to familiar boundaries and prevents exploration of novel ideas.

The other terms convey related but distinct concepts. Functional fixedness specifically refers to the cognitive bias that limits a person to using an object only in the way it was traditionally used, while mental set involves approaching a problem in a specific way that has worked in the past, which can also restrict problem-solving. The availability heuristic pertains to a mental shortcut that relies on immediate examples that come to mind when evaluating a situation but does not directly address the concept of seeing a problem from a fresh viewpoint.