托福口语 Task 3

In psychology, the concept of 'functional fixedness' refers to a cognitive bias that limits a person to using an object only in the way it is traditionally used. This mental block prevents individuals from seeing alternative uses for familiar items, thereby hindering problem-solving. When faced with a novel challenge, people often fail to think creatively because they are 'fixed' on the object's typical function. Overcoming functional fixedness requires a deliberate shift in perspective, allowing one to repurpose objects in unconventional ways to achieve a goal.

Professor: Let me illustrate this with a classic experiment. Participants were given a candle, a box of tacks, and a matchbook, and asked to attach the candle to a wall so it could burn properly. Many tried to tack the candle directly to the wall or melt wax to stick it, but these failed. The solution was to empty the tack box, tack it to the wall as a shelf, and place the candle inside it. Most people couldn't see the box as anything but a container for tacks. They were stuck—they suffered from functional fixedness. Only when someone mentally freed the box from its typical role as a tack holder could they solve the problem. This shows how our preconceived notions about an object's use can prevent creative solutions.