What is Einstellung Effect?
We all are familiar with the Einstellung effect because we cannot run away from what we know.
The German word einstellung refers to attitude in English, but the psychological effect it refers to is much deeper than just an attitude. In general terms, the effect can be described as “having the same attitude or applying the same knowledge to novel situations even though there are better alternatives”. You may think that I am doing my best but nothing has changed, or you are having the same conversations over and over again with different people.
Our lives and emotional states are affected by our perspectives and problem solving skills; the perception of a problem is changed by our pre-existing beliefs and earlier experiences. And sometimes, we may think that our problems are so serious that we can’t overcome them. Even though this might be true in reality, our perception may also create such a belief. Maybe we are trying to solve it with the previous problem solving strategies that are not useful in the current situation. However, this also does not mean that the method is totally useless. Maybe the only problem is that the way we choose to solve the current problem is not appropriate for the situation. We all go through the similar times when we cannot find a flexible and creative solution to the problem.
What can we do then?
Acceptance is the first step, we need to accept that it is hard to overcome the problem. This acceptance will help us to understand the issue better and see the bigger picture. Secondly, we need to start seeing the limitations of our reasoning and question why we are so insistent in our problem solving methods. Why are we under the effect of Einstellung?
Think of earlier experiences of problem solving: how did you manage a conflict at work, how did you get better after a break-up, were you in a similar cycle in familial relationships; how were your attitudes towards people and situations? Did you begin to realize the generalizations in your mind?
Maybe our dysfunctioning generalized beliefs and disestablished reason-result relations are limiting our reasoning skills and leading us to feel helpless. Maybe it is time to become aware of those beliefs and get out of the Einstellung effect.
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