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 objects, thereby hindering problem-solving. Research shows that overcoming functional fixedness often requires a deliberate shift in perspective, which can lead to creative solutions in everyday and professional situations.

Professor: Let me give you a classic example. In an experiment, participants were given a box of thumbtacks, a candle, and a match, and asked to attach the candle to a wall so it could burn without dripping wax. Most people tried to tack the candle directly to the wall or melt wax to stick it, both failed. They saw the box only as a container for tacks. But the solution was to empty the box, tack it to the wall, and place the candle inside. The participants who succeeded had to overcome functional fixedness by seeing the box as a potential shelf rather than just a holder. Once they broke that mental set, the problem became easy.