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 its traditional manner. This mental block prevents individuals from seeing alternative uses for familiar items, thereby hindering problem-solving and creativity. Functional fixedness is often overcome through insight or by restructuring the problem, which allows for novel applications of objects to emerge.

Professor: Let me illustrate this with a classic experiment involving a box of tacks, a candle, and a matchbox. Participants were asked to attach a candle to a wall so that it could burn properly. Most struggled because they saw the box only as a container for tacks. However, the solution was to empty the box, tack it to the wall, and use it as a platform for the candle. Those who viewed the box solely as a holder were stuck—they exhibited functional fixedness. But once they realized the box could serve as a shelf, they solved the problem easily. This demonstrates how breaking free from conventional uses leads to creative solutions.