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Einstellung effect: How competence can dull the mind

By PulseAugur Editorial · [1 sources] ·

Psychologists have identified the "Einstellung effect" as a cognitive trap where relying on familiar solutions hinders the discovery of better ones. This phenomenon, observed in chess players and problem-solving tasks, shows that success with a known method can gradually narrow one's search for alternatives without conscious awareness. The illusion of explanatory depth also arises when individuals overestimate their understanding of concepts due to fluent recall, a confidence that can be inflated by simply searching for information rather than truly deriving it. AI

RANK_REASON The item is an opinion piece by a psychologist discussing a cognitive phenomenon, not a primary research release or industry event.

Read on Forbes — Innovation →

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Einstellung effect: How competence can dull the mind

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COVERAGE [1]

  1. Forbes — Innovation TIER_1 English(EN) · Mark Travers, Contributor ·

    The No. 1 Habit That Slowly Dulls Your Sharp Mind, By A Psychologist

    New research reveals the surprising habit that quietly dulls a sharp mind — and it's not neglect, it's the competence you've already built up over the years.

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