Identify obstacles that one may encounter in problem solving.

The obstacles that one may encounter in problem solving are as follows:

(i) Mental Set

• It is a tendency of a person to solve problems by following the previously tried mental operations based upon prior success.

• It can create a mental rigidity and hinder problem solving since the problem solver does not think of new rules and ideas.

• It is also related to functional fixedness, whereby people fail to solve a problem because they get fixed or stuck on the usual function of things.

(ii) Lack of Motivation

• Motivation is a very important condition to solve problems. Sometimes people give up easily while encountering a problem or when they have had met a failure previously.

• Thus, they become de-motivated and are unable to solve problems.