when humans are confronted by a computer that is either not working, or working in a regime they are not intimately familiar with, they freeze - they go into brain lock
One of the interesting things about pilots (at least pilots from 30-40 years ago) is the tendency NOT to give up in the face of adversity. Furthermore, pilots of that age and earlier were philosophically inclined to press the big "OFF" button and revert to traditional I/F stick and rudder.
I am reminded of an older pilot colleague who, in his 50s, undertook his first heavy jet command endorsement (although he had flown Meteors in Korea). He was finding it all a bit heavy going until a mid-way through sim session involving limited panel type flying .. he emerged with a grin from ear to ear .. "it's just like a real aeroplane, mate !" Needless to say, having observed that it (DC9) was not much different to a DC3 .. he had, thereafter, no problems.
It may not be the case these days with the emphasis on button pressing .. but a freeze response certainly wasn't endemic in past times.