Functional fixedness inhibits problem-solving by:

Functional fixedness is a cognitive bias that leads individuals to see objects only in their traditional uses. This mental block can greatly inhibit problem-solving because when people fixate on these conventional uses, they overlook potential innovative solutions or alternative functions that an object may serve. For instance, when faced with a problem, if an individual only thinks of a hammer as a tool for driving nails, they may miss opportunities to use it for other purposes, such as a weight for holding something down or a lever.

By leading people to assume that things have only one function, functional fixedness confines their thinking and limits their ability to creatively solve problems. In the context of this question, the correct answer emphasizes how this restrictive mindset can be detrimental to effective problem-solving by reducing the range of potential solutions that an individual can consider. Thus, overcoming functional fixedness requires individuals to challenge their preconceived notions of an object's purpose and explore alternative uses, which is essential for more flexible and creative problem-solving.