托福口语 Task 3

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, thereby preventing them from seeing novel or alternative uses for that object. This mental block often hinders problem-solving because individuals become fixated on an object’s typical function rather than considering its potential for other purposes. Overcoming functional fixedness requires creative thinking and the ability to break away from conventional assumptions about how objects are meant to be used.

Professor: Let me give you an example from a study. In the experiment, participants were given a candle, a box of thumbtacks, and a book of matches. Their task was to attach the candle to the wall so that it could burn without dripping wax on the floor. Many participants tried to melt the candle with matches and stick it to the wall, or use thumbtacks to pin the candle directly—but these methods failed. However, the solution was to empty the thumbtack box, tack it to the wall as a small shelf, and then place the candle inside the box. The participants who failed were stuck because they only saw the box as a container for thumbtacks—they couldn’t see it as a shelf. This is a classic case of functional fixedness.