In psychology, rigidity or mental rigidity refers to an obstinate inability to yield or a refusal to appreciate another person's viewpoint or emotions characterized by a lack of empathy.[1] It can also refer to the tendency to perseverate, which is the inability to change habits and the inability to modify concepts and attitudes once developed.[2]
A specific example of rigidity is functional fixedness, which is a difficulty conceiving new uses for familiar objects.[3]
Rigidity is an ancient part of our human cognition.[4] Systematic research on rigidity can be found tracing back to Gestalt psychologists, going as far back as the late 19th to early 20th century with Max Wertheimer, Wolfgang Köhler, and Kurt Koffka in Germany.[4][5] With more than 100 years of research on the matter there is some established and clear data. Nonetheless, there is still much controversy surrounding several of the fundamental aspects of rigidity. In the early stages of approaching the idea of rigidity, it is treated as "a unidimensional continuum ranging from rigid at one end to flexible at the other". This idea dates back to the 1800s and was later articulated by Charles Spearman who described it as mental inertia. Prior to 1960 many definitions for the term rigidity were afloat. One example includes Kurt Goldstein's, which he stated, "adherence to a present performance in an inadequate way", another being Milton Rokeach saying the definition was, "[the] inability to change one's set when the objective conditions demand it".[6] Others have simplified rigidity down to stages for easy defining.[7] Generally, it is agreed upon that it is evidenced by the identification of mental or behavioral sets.[4]
Lewin and Kounin also proposed a theory of cognitive rigidity (also called Lewin-Kounin formulation) based on a Gestalt perspective and they used it to explain a behavior in mentally retarded persons that is inflexible, repetitive, and unchanging.[8] The theory proposed that it is caused by a greater "stiffness" or impermeability between inner-personal regions of individuals, which influence behavior.[8] Rigidity was particularly explored in Lewin's views regarding the degree of differentiation among children. He posited that a mentally retarded child can be distinguished from the normal child due to the smaller capacity for dynamic rearrangement in terms of his psychical systems.[9]
Mental setEdit
Mental sets represent a form of rigidity in which an individual behaves or believes in a certain way due to prior experience.[10] It's a type of cognitive bias that can lead people to make assumptions about how they should solve problems without taking into account all the information available.[11] The opposite of this is termed cognitive flexibility. These mental sets may not always be consciously recognized by the bearer.[12] In the field of psychology, mental sets are typically examined in the process of problem solving,[13] with an emphasis on the process of breaking away from particular mental sets into formulation of insight. Breaking mental sets in order to successfully resolve problems fall under three typical stages: a) tendency to solve a problem in a fixed way, b) unsuccessfully solving a problem using methods suggested by prior experience, and c) realizing that the solution requires different methods.[10] Components of high executive functioning, such as the interplay between working memory and inhibition, are essential to effective switching between mental sets for different situations.[14] Individual differences in mental sets vary, with one study producing a variety of cautious and risky strategies in individual responses to a reaction time test.[15]
CausesEdit
Rigidity can be a learned behavioral trait, for example if the subject has a parent, boss or teacher who demonstrated the same form of behavior towards them.[citation needed] Rigidity is also associated with autism spectrum conditions, and has a genetic component.[16]
StagesEdit
Rigidity has three different main "stages" of severity, although it never has to move to further stages.[7] The first stage is a strict perception that causes one to persist in their ways and be close-minded to other things.[7] The second involves a motive to defend the ego.[7] The third stage is that it is a part of one's personality and you can see it in their perception, cognition, and social interactions.[7]
TraitsEdit
We often see traits that occur alongside rigidity.
Accompanying externalizing behaviorsEdit
They could be external behaviors, such as the following:[17]
Mental rigidity often features a high need for cognitive closure, meaning that they assign explanations prematurely to things with a determination that this is truth, finding that resolution of the dissonance as reassuring as finding the truth.[18] Then, there is little reason to correct their unconscious misattributions if it would bring uncertainty back.
Autism spectrum disorderEdit
Cognitive rigidity is one feature of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). It is included in what's called the Broader Autism Phenotype, where a collection of autistic traits still fail to reach the level of ASD. This is one example of how rigidity does not show up as a single trait, but comes with a number of related traits.[17][19]
Obsessive-compulsive disorderEdit
ScrupulosityEdit
EffectsEdit
EthnocentrismEdit
Rigidity may be a cause of ethnocentrism. In one study, M. Rokeach tested for ethnocentrism's relatedness to mental rigidity by using the California Ethnocentrism Scale (when measuring American college students' views) and the California Attitude Scale (when measuring children's views) before they were given what is called by cognitive scientists "the water jar problem." This problem teaches students a set pattern for how to solve each one. Those that scored higher in ethnocentrism also showed attributes of rigidity such as persistence of mental sets and more complicated thought processes.[20]
Strategies for overcoming rigidityEdit
Consequences of unfulfillmentEdit
If a person with cognitive rigidity does not fulfill their rigidly held expectations, the following could occur:[17]
Agitation
Aggression
Self-injurious behavior
Depression
Anxiety
Suicidality
These are clearly maladaptive, and so there are other ways to overcome this:
^Aquilar, Francesco; Galluccio, Mauro (2007). Psychological Processes in International Negotiations: Theoretical and Practical Perspectives. New York: Springer Science & Business Media. p. 92. ISBN978-0-387-71378-6.
^Stewin, Len (September 1983). "The concept of rigidity: an enigma". International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling. 6 (3): 227–232. doi:10.1007/BF00124273. ISSN 0165-0653. S2CID 145255372.
^Davis, Stephen F.; Palladino, Joseph J. (2007). Psychology. Pearson Prentice Hall. p. 331. ISBN978-0-13-220840-6.
^ abcJohnson, David W.; Johnson, Roger T. (November 2005). "New Developments in Social Interdependence Theory". Genetic, Social, and General Psychology Monographs. 131 (4): 285–358. doi:10.3200/mono.131.4.285-358. ISSN 8756-7547. PMID 17191373. S2CID 12237349.
^Ash, Mitchell G. (1998-10-13). Gestalt Psychology in German Culture, 1890-1967: Holism and the Quest for Objectivity. Cambridge University Press. ISBN978-0-521-64627-7.
^Chris, McCarron (17 January 2022). "Behavioural Set Psychology: Rigidity of thought and behaviour".
^ abcdeLEACH, PENELOPE JANE (February 1967). "A Critical Study of the Literature Concerning Rigidity". British Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology. 6 (1): 11–22. doi:10.1111/j.2044-8260.1967.tb00494.x. ISSN 0007-1293. PMID 5341255.
^ abMacLean Jr, William (2012). Ellis' Handbook of Mental Deficiency, Psychological Theory and Research, Third Edition. Oxon: Routledge. pp. 175–176. ISBN978-1-136-48078-2.
^Zigler, E.; Balla, D. (2013). Mental Retardation: The Developmental-difference Controversy. Hillsdale, NJ: Routledge. p. 62. ISBN978-0898591705.
^GoGoChimp (2021-12-11). "Why Mental Set Psychology is Crucial for Great Website UX". GoGoChimp. Retrieved 2022-01-09.
^Juola, James F.; Hergenhahn, B. R. (July 1968). "Effects of Training Level, Type of Training, and Awareness on the Establishment of Mental Set in Anagram Solving". The Journal of Psychology. 69 (2): 155–159. doi:10.1080/00223980.1968.10543460. ISSN 0022-3980. PMID 5667447.
^Beeman, Mark Jung; Chiarello, Christine (1998). Right Hemisphere Language Comprehension: Perspectives From Cognitive Neuroscience. Mahwah, NJ: Psychology Press. p. 354. ISBN0805819258.
^Brocki, Karin (November–December 2014). "Mental set shifting in childhood: The role of working memory and inhibitory control". Infant and Child Development. 23 (6): 588–604. doi:10.1002/icd.1871.
^Winkler, Alissa D.; Hu, Sien; Li, Chiang-shan R. (2013). "The influence of risky and conservative mental sets on cerebral activations of cognitive control". International Journal of Psychophysiology. 87 (3): 254–261. doi:10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2012.08.010. PMC3511622. PMID 22922525.
^Bralten, J.; van Hulzen, K. J.; Martens, M. B.; Galesloot, T. E.; Arias Vasquez, A.; Kiemeney, L. A.; Buitelaar, J. K.; Muntjewerff, J. W.; Franke, B.; Poelmans, G. (May 2018). "Autism spectrum disorders and autistic traits share genetics and biology". Molecular Psychiatry. 23 (5): 1205–1212. doi:10.1038/mp.2017.98. ISSN 1476-5578. PMC5984081. PMID 28507316.
^ abcd"Cognitive Rigidity: The 8-Ball from Hell". Psychology Today. Retrieved 2020-04-10.
^"Mental Rigidity". Exploring your mind. 2016-07-12. Retrieved 2020-04-10.
^Poljac, Edita; Hoofs, Vincent; Princen, Myrthe M.; Poljac, Ervin (March 2017). "Understanding Behavioural Rigidity in Autism Spectrum Conditions: The Role of Intentional Control". Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 47 (3): 714–727. doi:10.1007/s10803-016-3010-3. ISSN 0162-3257. PMID 28070785. S2CID 38180833.
^Rokeach, Milton (1948). "Generalized mental rigidity as a factor in ethnocentrism". The Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology. 43 (3): 259–278. doi:10.1037/h0056134. ISSN 0096-851X. PMID 18878208.
rigidity, psychology, psychology, rigidity, mental, rigidity, refers, obstinate, inability, yield, refusal, appreciate, another, person, viewpoint, emotions, characterized, lack, empathy, also, refer, tendency, perseverate, which, inability, change, habits, in. In psychology rigidity or mental rigidity refers to an obstinate inability to yield or a refusal to appreciate another person s viewpoint or emotions characterized by a lack of empathy 1 It can also refer to the tendency to perseverate which is the inability to change habits and the inability to modify concepts and attitudes once developed 2 A specific example of rigidity is functional fixedness which is a difficulty conceiving new uses for familiar objects 3 Contents 1 History 2 Mental set 3 Causes 4 Stages 5 Traits 5 1 Accompanying externalizing behaviors 5 2 Accompanying internalizing behaviors 5 3 Manifestations of rigidity 6 Associated conditions 6 1 Cognitive closure 6 2 Autism spectrum disorder 6 3 Obsessive compulsive disorder 6 4 Scrupulosity 7 Effects 7 1 Ethnocentrism 8 Strategies for overcoming rigidity 8 1 Consequences of unfulfillment 9 References 10 See alsoHistory EditRigidity is an ancient part of our human cognition 4 Systematic research on rigidity can be found tracing back to Gestalt psychologists going as far back as the late 19th to early 20th century with Max Wertheimer Wolfgang Kohler and Kurt Koffka in Germany 4 5 With more than 100 years of research on the matter there is some established and clear data Nonetheless there is still much controversy surrounding several of the fundamental aspects of rigidity In the early stages of approaching the idea of rigidity it is treated as a unidimensional continuum ranging from rigid at one end to flexible at the other This idea dates back to the 1800s and was later articulated by Charles Spearman who described it as mental inertia Prior to 1960 many definitions for the term rigidity were afloat One example includes Kurt Goldstein s which he stated adherence to a present performance in an inadequate way another being Milton Rokeach saying the definition was the inability to change one s set when the objective conditions demand it 6 Others have simplified rigidity down to stages for easy defining 7 Generally it is agreed upon that it is evidenced by the identification of mental or behavioral sets 4 Lewin and Kounin also proposed a theory of cognitive rigidity also called Lewin Kounin formulation based on a Gestalt perspective and they used it to explain a behavior in mentally retarded persons that is inflexible repetitive and unchanging 8 The theory proposed that it is caused by a greater stiffness or impermeability between inner personal regions of individuals which influence behavior 8 Rigidity was particularly explored in Lewin s views regarding the degree of differentiation among children He posited that a mentally retarded child can be distinguished from the normal child due to the smaller capacity for dynamic rearrangement in terms of his psychical systems 9 Mental set EditMental sets represent a form of rigidity in which an individual behaves or believes in a certain way due to prior experience 10 It s a type of cognitive bias that can lead people to make assumptions about how they should solve problems without taking into account all the information available 11 The opposite of this is termed cognitive flexibility These mental sets may not always be consciously recognized by the bearer 12 In the field of psychology mental sets are typically examined in the process of problem solving 13 with an emphasis on the process of breaking away from particular mental sets into formulation of insight Breaking mental sets in order to successfully resolve problems fall under three typical stages a tendency to solve a problem in a fixed way b unsuccessfully solving a problem using methods suggested by prior experience and c realizing that the solution requires different methods 10 Components of high executive functioning such as the interplay between working memory and inhibition are essential to effective switching between mental sets for different situations 14 Individual differences in mental sets vary with one study producing a variety of cautious and risky strategies in individual responses to a reaction time test 15 Causes EditRigidity can be a learned behavioral trait for example if the subject has a parent boss or teacher who demonstrated the same form of behavior towards them citation needed Rigidity is also associated with autism spectrum conditions and has a genetic component 16 Stages EditRigidity has three different main stages of severity although it never has to move to further stages 7 The first stage is a strict perception that causes one to persist in their ways and be close minded to other things 7 The second involves a motive to defend the ego 7 The third stage is that it is a part of one s personality and you can see it in their perception cognition and social interactions 7 Traits EditWe often see traits that occur alongside rigidity Accompanying externalizing behaviors Edit They could be external behaviors such as the following 17 Insistently repetitious behavior Difficulty with unmet expectations Perfectionism Compulsions as in OCD PerseverationAccompanying internalizing behaviors Edit Internalizing behaviors also are shown 17 Perfectionism Obsessions as in OCD Manifestations of rigidity EditAssociated conditions EditCognitive closure Edit Mental rigidity often features a high need for cognitive closure meaning that they assign explanations prematurely to things with a determination that this is truth finding that resolution of the dissonance as reassuring as finding the truth 18 Then there is little reason to correct their unconscious misattributions if it would bring uncertainty back Autism spectrum disorder Edit Cognitive rigidity is one feature of autism spectrum disorder ASD It is included in what s called the Broader Autism Phenotype where a collection of autistic traits still fail to reach the level of ASD This is one example of how rigidity does not show up as a single trait but comes with a number of related traits 17 19 Obsessive compulsive disorder Edit Scrupulosity EditEffects EditEthnocentrism Edit Rigidity may be a cause of ethnocentrism In one study M Rokeach tested for ethnocentrism s relatedness to mental rigidity by using the California Ethnocentrism Scale when measuring American college students views and the California Attitude Scale when measuring children s views before they were given what is called by cognitive scientists the water jar problem This problem teaches students a set pattern for how to solve each one Those that scored higher in ethnocentrism also showed attributes of rigidity such as persistence of mental sets and more complicated thought processes 20 Strategies for overcoming rigidity EditConsequences of unfulfillment Edit If a person with cognitive rigidity does not fulfill their rigidly held expectations the following could occur 17 Agitation Aggression Self injurious behavior Depression Anxiety SuicidalityThese are clearly maladaptive and so there are other ways to overcome this Use of The Power of TED amp The Winner s Triangle are both Therapeutic models that use the Karpman drama triangle derived from Transactional AnalysisReferences Edit Aquilar Francesco Galluccio Mauro 2007 Psychological Processes in International Negotiations Theoretical and Practical Perspectives New York Springer Science amp Business Media p 92 ISBN 978 0 387 71378 6 Stewin Len September 1983 The concept of rigidity an enigma International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling 6 3 227 232 doi 10 1007 BF00124273 ISSN 0165 0653 S2CID 145255372 Davis Stephen F Palladino Joseph J 2007 Psychology Pearson Prentice Hall p 331 ISBN 978 0 13 220840 6 a b c Johnson David W Johnson Roger T November 2005 New Developments in Social Interdependence Theory Genetic Social and General Psychology Monographs 131 4 285 358 doi 10 3200 mono 131 4 285 358 ISSN 8756 7547 PMID 17191373 S2CID 12237349 Ash Mitchell G 1998 10 13 Gestalt Psychology in German Culture 1890 1967 Holism and the Quest for Objectivity Cambridge University Press ISBN 978 0 521 64627 7 Chris McCarron 17 January 2022 Behavioural Set Psychology Rigidity of thought and behaviour a b c d e LEACH PENELOPE JANE February 1967 A Critical Study of the Literature Concerning Rigidity British Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology 6 1 11 22 doi 10 1111 j 2044 8260 1967 tb00494 x ISSN 0007 1293 PMID 5341255 a b MacLean Jr William 2012 Ellis Handbook of Mental Deficiency Psychological Theory and Research Third Edition Oxon Routledge pp 175 176 ISBN 978 1 136 48078 2 Zigler E Balla D 2013 Mental Retardation The Developmental difference Controversy Hillsdale NJ Routledge p 62 ISBN 978 0898591705 a b Zhao Yufang Tu Shen Lei Ming Qiu Jiang Ybarra Oscar Zhang Qinglin 2011 The neural basis of breaking mental set an event related potential study Experimental Brain Research 208 2 181 187 doi 10 1007 s00221 010 2468 z PMID 21046365 S2CID 18608834 GoGoChimp 2021 12 11 Why Mental Set Psychology is Crucial for Great Website UX GoGoChimp Retrieved 2022 01 09 Juola James F Hergenhahn B R July 1968 Effects of Training Level Type of Training and Awareness on the Establishment of Mental Set in Anagram Solving The Journal of Psychology 69 2 155 159 doi 10 1080 00223980 1968 10543460 ISSN 0022 3980 PMID 5667447 Beeman Mark Jung Chiarello Christine 1998 Right Hemisphere Language Comprehension Perspectives From Cognitive Neuroscience Mahwah NJ Psychology Press p 354 ISBN 0805819258 Brocki Karin November December 2014 Mental set shifting in childhood The role of working memory and inhibitory control Infant and Child Development 23 6 588 604 doi 10 1002 icd 1871 Winkler Alissa D Hu Sien Li Chiang shan R 2013 The influence of risky and conservative mental sets on cerebral activations of cognitive control International Journal of Psychophysiology 87 3 254 261 doi 10 1016 j ijpsycho 2012 08 010 PMC 3511622 PMID 22922525 Bralten J van Hulzen K J Martens M B Galesloot T E Arias Vasquez A Kiemeney L A Buitelaar J K Muntjewerff J W Franke B Poelmans G May 2018 Autism spectrum disorders and autistic traits share genetics and biology Molecular Psychiatry 23 5 1205 1212 doi 10 1038 mp 2017 98 ISSN 1476 5578 PMC 5984081 PMID 28507316 a b c d Cognitive Rigidity The 8 Ball from Hell Psychology Today Retrieved 2020 04 10 Mental Rigidity Exploring your mind 2016 07 12 Retrieved 2020 04 10 Poljac Edita Hoofs Vincent Princen Myrthe M Poljac Ervin March 2017 Understanding Behavioural Rigidity in Autism Spectrum Conditions The Role of Intentional Control Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 47 3 714 727 doi 10 1007 s10803 016 3010 3 ISSN 0162 3257 PMID 28070785 S2CID 38180833 Rokeach Milton 1948 Generalized mental rigidity as a factor in ethnocentrism The Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology 43 3 259 278 doi 10 1037 h0056134 ISSN 0096 851X PMID 18878208 See also EditSet psychology Cognitive inertia Neuroplasticity Cognitive flexibility Einstellung effect Abnormal posturing Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Rigidity psychology amp 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