Definition: Describes the tendency for people to be unable to view resources beyond their 'intended purpose'.
Insight: The result of functional fixedness is that we try to acquire as many resources as possible to face challenges, often a distraction from getting things done.
Insight: As we age, we are more tied to convention or our own patterns, and find it harder to envision things beyond common uses.
Insight: Children, often without experience using particular objects, are least prone to functional fixedness.
Insight: We can adopt a 'stretching' mindset to break free of convention and the fixed view of resources.
Insight: We often don't need more resources to solve problems, but a different way of looking at what we already have.
Insight: Exposure to potential rivals can increase our liking.
Reference: Robert Zajonc - the idea that when we approach something new, we often fear it, but over time our response to the same thing becomes more positive.
