Which term refers to the tendency to approach a problem in one particular way that has been successful in the past?

• A. Algorithm
• B. Mental set
• C. Insight
• D. Prototype

Answer: (B)

Mental set is the tendency to approach a problem in a particular way that has been successful in the past. This happens when prior successes push you to reuse the same method you know, even if a new or different approach would work better for the current situation. That pattern can speed up solving problems you recognize, but it can also prevent you from seeing alternative strategies when the old method no longer fits.

An algorithm, by contrast, is a precise, step-by-step procedure designed to guarantee a solution if followed correctly—it's not about reliance on past successful patterns. Insight is a sudden, often surprising realization of the solution, not a habitual approach. A prototype is a mental image or example used to categorize or compare new problems, not a fixed strategy carried over from past successes.