RECONSIDERING THE TRADE-OFF BETWEEN EXPERTISE AND FLEXIBILITY: A COGNITIVE ENTRENCHMENT PERSPECTIVE

Research suggests that as one acquires domain expertise, one loses flexibility with regard to problem solving, adaptation, and creative idea generation. Here. I reconsider this trade-off between expertise and flexibility by examining the concept of cognitive entrenchment-a high level of stability in one's domain schemas. Proposing that cognitive entrenchment varies not only with expertise but also with one's task environment and attentional focus. I contend that the inflexibility-related limitations of expertise can be circumvented.