mental flexibility
nounUK /ˌmɛntl flɛkˈsɪbɪlɪti/
US /ˌmɛntl flɛkˈsɪbɪləti/
The ability to change the way you think when things change around you.
Mental flexibility helps you solve a puzzle even when the pieces don't fit the way you first thought.
RELATED WORDS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. In psychology, the capacity to shift between different ideas or rules smoothly.
The test measures mental flexibility by asking children to switch between sorting rules.
3. The willingness to consider new opinions or ways of doing things.
Her mental flexibility made the team open to trying a completely different plan.
4. The brain's ability to switch attention between tasks without getting stuck.
Regular exercise can support mental flexibility as we age.