What term describes the tendency to perceive an object only in terms of its most common use?

Functional fixedness is the term that describes the cognitive bias where individuals perceive an object only in its most common or traditional function, limiting their ability to see alternative uses for that object. This mental block can hinder problem-solving and creativity because it restricts thinking to a narrow framework.

For example, if someone is faced with a situation that requires a solution, they might struggle to use everyday items in innovative ways because they only consider their standard usage. This fixation can be detrimental in scenarios that require out-of-the-box thinking, as it prevents the individual from exploring other possibilities that could lead to a successful outcome.

The other choices pertain to different cognitive concepts: heuristics focus on rule-of-thumb strategies for problem-solving, implicit memory involves unconscious memory of skills and tasks, and long-term memory refers to the storage of information over prolonged periods. While each term is relevant within the context of cognition, only functional fixedness specifically addresses the limitation of viewing objects in a restricted manner based on their typical use.