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    Interesting how Einstellung effect description is based upon an obvious mistake. Luchin was experimenting how people would deduce the problem from his incomplete and ambiguous description (was he asking for optimization for latency or optimization for throughput?). However he made himself delusioning that he allegedly still was experimenting on "how people come to solutions". That is a referential thing perhaps. Luchin was so focused on his interest, that he failed to notice when he diverted to a very different problem. Commented May 16, 2018 at 9:52
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    My source was Scientific American, if you object you can take it up with them ;) Commented May 17, 2018 at 12:57
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    I think a better example from chess would be something like a player being focused on trying to achieve a complicated checkmate with insufficient material, while overlooking the fact they have a pawn which could queen. Commented Jun 10, 2018 at 23:25
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    IMHO this answer would be improved by mentioning what X and Y are. Commented May 21, 2021 at 18:57
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    This answer does not answer any of the three questions being asked: what is the XY problem? how to recognise it? how to avoid it? (It mostly seems to answer a different question, "Why is the XY problem bad?") Commented Jan 18, 2022 at 21:56
  • The first line explains what it is: "the XY problem is a subset of the Einstellung effect" By describing the problem in detail, it helps you know how to recognize it. You're right that the "how to avoid it" is only being addressed tangentially. I'll update the answer. Commented Jan 19, 2022 at 19:37
  • The experimenters for the Luchins and Abraham, 1942 paper didn't put test subjects in an information vacuum. The experimenters prompted or suggested ideas to them as part of their experimental design. "The XY Problem", as stated, neglects this, by assuming the problem-solver is in an information vacuum, and the interlocuters are spectators pointing out that they are victims of the Einstellung effect. If "The XY Problem" were about problem-solving, it would emphasize the importance of dialogue in solving problems - not minimizing dialogue, or judgement of what is a "better" solution. Commented Mar 10, 2023 at 15:30