Florin wants to go out on Halloween, but he doesn't have a costume. His wife, Ashley, replies, "No problem. Just use this sheet." But Florin doesn't see how the sheet could be a costume. His wife says, "Put this sheet over your head, poke out two holes for your eyes, and now you're a ghost!" The fact that Florin didn't see how he could use the sheet as a ghost costume is most likely explained by his experiencing a. restructuring b. framing c. insight d. functional fixedness

Problem-solving is an essential cognitive process that allows us to navigate through the complexities of everyday situations. In essence, it involves identifying a problem, generating potential solutions, evaluating those solutions, and then implementing the most effective one. For Florin, the problem was the lack of a Halloween costume. The potential solution—using a sheet to create a ghost costume—required a cognitive leap beyond the sheet's conventional use.

When solving problems, people often rely on past experiences and familiar strategies. However, unique or unfamiliar problems may require innovative thinking and creativity. In educational settings, exercises like the one faced by Florin are designed to encourage students to think outside the box and to apply problem-solving strategies in unconventional ways. Hence, understanding problem-solving can help students approach academic challenges and real-life situations with flexibility and resourcefulness.

Cognitive psychology is the field of psychology dedicated to understanding how people think, learn, remember, and perceive. It involves the study of mental processes and how these processes impact behavior. One significant area within cognitive psychology is the study of problem-solving and how individuals overcome obstacles to reach a goal.

In the context of the exercise with Florin and the Halloween costume, cognitive psychology would explore how his thought processes led to a mental barrier, preventing the immediate recognition of the sheet's potential as a costume. Cognitive psychology can shed light on why some individuals, like Florin, experience functional fixedness—adhering to a limited view of an object's use—while others might quickly generate creative solutions. By understanding cognitive processes, educators can better design strategies to help students overcome these mental blocks.

A mental barrier is a psychological block that inhibits a person's ability to envision alternatives or conceive innovative solutions. It's like a wall in the mind that restricts thinking to familiar paths. Functional fixedness, which Florin experienced, is a type of mental barrier where an individual struggles to use objects in any way other than their intended function. This was evident when Florin could not immediately see the costume potential of the sheet.

Breaking through these mental barriers requires a shift in perspective, which can be stimulated by various techniques such as brainstorming or perspective-taking exercises. In educational contexts, it's crucial to recognize and address these barriers to help students adopt a more flexible mindset, thereby enhancing their problem-solving abilities and creative thinking. Encouraging students to challenge their assumptions and explore multiple viewpoints can gradually weaken mental barriers, leading to a more robust capability for innovative thinking.