I suspect that part of the problem is that we regularly work with designed systems that have a master plan that can be derived from a small amount of evidence.

I've been playing alot of portal and half life 2 lately. (first person shooters with heavy puzzle elements) and I wonder about how the level design is affecting my thought process.

I'm often in a room with a prominent exit and it is clear that that is the exit I'm supposed to take. When the way I came in is blocked I know that there is some other way to get out. When my computer controlled squad mates parrot 'which way do we go?' I think to myself 'What do you mean? It's obvious the level designer wants us to go this way."

I wonder if this will affect how I deal with real world puzzles where there are many paths that don't lead to defined goals, but also don't lead to a clear dead end.