Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Reason and Intuition01:37

Reason and Intuition

6.5K
The human brain processes information for decision-making using one of two routes: an intuitive system and a rational system (Epstein, 1994; popularized by Kahneman, 2011 as System 1 and System 2, respectively). The intuitive system is quick, impulsive, and operates with minimal effort, relying on emotions or habits to provide cues for what to do next, while the rational system is logical, analytical, deliberate, and methodical. Research in neuropsychology suggests that the...
6.5K
Schemas01:42

Schemas

11.6K
A schema is a mental construct consisting of a cluster or collection of related concepts (Bartlett, 1932). There are many different types of schemata, and they all have one thing in common: schemata are a method of organizing information that allows the brain to work more efficiently. When a schema is activated, the brain makes immediate assumptions about the person or object being observed.
11.6K
Heuristics01:21

Heuristics

94
Heuristics are problem-solving strategies that use mental shortcuts to simplify decision-making. Unlike algorithms, which must be followed precisely to achieve a correct result, heuristics offer a general problem-solving framework. They save time and energy but can sometimes lead to less rational decisions.
People often rely on heuristics when faced with an overload of information, limited time, low importance of the decision, limited information, or when a heuristic readily comes to mind. For...
94
Simplification of a Force and Couple System I01:18

Simplification of a Force and Couple System I

569
The concept of reducing a system of forces and couple moments to an equivalent system is essential in simplifying the analysis of rigid bodies. This reduction allows for more straightforward computation and understanding of the external effects produced by the system. In particular, systems with an equivalent resultant force and a resultant couple moment having perpendicular lines of action can be further reduced to a single equivalent resultant force acting along a new line of action. There...
569
Schemata01:17

Schemata

95
A schema is a mental construct that organizes related concepts, allowing the brain to process information efficiently. Upon activation, schemata facilitate assumptions about people or objects.
Two types of schemata are:
95
Revisionist Views of Adolescent and Adult Cognition01:24

Revisionist Views of Adolescent and Adult Cognition

38
A revisionist approach to Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development has brought new insights that challenge and reinterpret his established ideas. Piaget proposed that the formal operational stage, emerging in adolescence, represents the culmination of cognitive maturity. During this stage, individuals are said to develop abstract thinking, engage in systematic problem-solving, and show a form of egocentrism, believing others are as preoccupied with their behavior as they are...
38

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Author Correction: Cerebellar aging is spatially heterogeneous and supports cognitive resilience in later life.

Nature neuroscience·2026
Same author

A folk taxonomy of magic.

Cognition·2026
Same author

Cerebellar aging is spatially heterogeneous and supports cognitive resilience in later life.

Nature neuroscience·2026
Same author

A reporting checklist for large language models in behavioural science.

Nature human behaviour·2026
Same author

Resolving Feynman's restaurant problem reveals optimal solutions and human strategies.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026
Same author

Considering Psychological Mechanisms Can Change the Interpretation of Bayesian Models.

Topics in cognitive science·2026
Same journal

A Field Experiment Testing Whether Accountability Reduces Racial Gaps in Performance Evaluations.

Psychological science·2026
Same journal

Does Testosterone Affect Cognitive Reflection? Evidence From a Double-Blind, Randomized Controlled Study of 1,000 Participants.

Psychological science·2026
Same journal

Does Overconfidence Really Confer Adaptive Benefits to Children's Learning?

Psychological science·2026
Same journal

How Does the Mind Grow? Cross-Cultural Intuitive Theories of Mental Development.

Psychological science·2026
Same journal

Not All Practice Is Created Equal: Longitudinal Evidence From Over 40,000 Chess Players.

Psychological science·2026
Same journal

Eye Glint as a Novel Perceptual Cue in Human Vision.

Psychological science·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 12, 2025

The Adventures of Fundi Intervention Based on the Cognitive and Emotional Processing in Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder Patients
05:48

The Adventures of Fundi Intervention Based on the Cognitive and Emotional Processing in Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder Patients

Published on: June 12, 2020

5.8K

Rational Simplification and Rigidity in Human Planning.

Mark K Ho1,2, Jonathan D Cohen3, Thomas L Griffiths1,2

  • 1Department of Psychology, Princeton University.

Psychological Science
|October 25, 2023
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

People show behavioral flexibility but conceptual inflexibility due to avoiding cognitive costs. Simplified representations explain this puzzle in problem-solving, balancing cognitive load and task demands.

Keywords:
causal reasoningfunctional fixednessopen dataopen materialsplanningpreregisteredproblem solvingtask switching

More Related Videos

RBDT: A Computerized Task System based in Transposition for the Continuous Analysis of Relational Behavior Dynamics in Humans
11:09

RBDT: A Computerized Task System based in Transposition for the Continuous Analysis of Relational Behavior Dynamics in Humans

Published on: July 17, 2021

3.0K
The Modular Design and Production of an Intelligent Robot Based on a Closed-Loop Control Strategy
11:53

The Modular Design and Production of an Intelligent Robot Based on a Closed-Loop Control Strategy

Published on: October 14, 2017

11.7K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 12, 2025

The Adventures of Fundi Intervention Based on the Cognitive and Emotional Processing in Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder Patients
05:48

The Adventures of Fundi Intervention Based on the Cognitive and Emotional Processing in Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder Patients

Published on: June 12, 2020

5.8K
RBDT: A Computerized Task System based in Transposition for the Continuous Analysis of Relational Behavior Dynamics in Humans
11:09

RBDT: A Computerized Task System based in Transposition for the Continuous Analysis of Relational Behavior Dynamics in Humans

Published on: July 17, 2021

3.0K
The Modular Design and Production of an Intelligent Robot Based on a Closed-Loop Control Strategy
11:53

The Modular Design and Production of an Intelligent Robot Based on a Closed-Loop Control Strategy

Published on: October 14, 2017

11.7K

Area of Science:

  • Cognitive Science
  • Neuroscience
  • Psychology

Background:

  • Goal-directed behavior relies on planning, yet humans exhibit conceptual inflexibility (e.g., functional fixedness).
  • Reconciling behavioral flexibility with conceptual rigidity is a key question in cognitive science.
  • This study investigates the cognitive costs underlying this apparent paradox.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To test the hypothesis that conceptual inflexibility stems from avoiding the cognitive costs of representation and switching.
  • To explore how the selection of simplified representations influences problem-solving strategies.
  • To understand the interplay between cognitive flexibility and rigidity in decision-making.

Main Methods:

  • Developed a novel experimental paradigm allowing participants to choose simplified representations for planning.
  • Conducted two preregistered online studies with adult participants (N=377 and N=294).
  • Utilized a computational model to analyze optimal behavior, suboptimal behavior, and reaction times.

Main Results:

  • Participant behavior and reaction times were accurately predicted by a computational model.
  • The model formalized the avoidance of representational complexity and switching costs.
  • Evidence supports the role of cognitive cost avoidance in shaping problem-solving approaches.

Conclusions:

  • The tendency to select simplified, rigid representations explains the combination of flexibility and inflexibility in problem-solving.
  • Cognitive cost avoidance, specifically regarding representation and switching, is a crucial factor in human decision-making.
  • Findings offer insights into the cognitive mechanisms underlying adaptive yet sometimes rigid thinking.