Problem Solving: Response Competition and the Influence of Drive

Abstract

A functional fixedness problem was constructed which consisted of two sub-tasks. The initial sub-task, termed problem perception, was designed to involve minimal response competition. The second, a functional fixedness sub-task, involved both high and low response competition. Drive level did not influence problem perception time. High drive impaired problem-solving performance by increasing functional fixedness strength when response competition was high. When response competition was low, drive did not influence functional fixedness strength. The obtained interactive effect of drive level with problem difficulty, predicted by Spence's drive theory, was attributed to the interactive effects of drive upon functional fixedness strength.