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 creative problem-solving. When faced with a novel challenge, people often fail to think beyond an object's typical function, even when a different use could provide a solution. Overcoming functional fixedness requires a deliberate shift in perspective, allowing one to reimagine the potential purposes of everyday objects.

Professor: Let me illustrate this with a classic experiment. In the study, participants were given a box of thumbtacks, a candle, and a book of matches. Their task was to attach the candle to a wall so that it could burn without dripping wax on the floor. Many struggled because they tried to tack the candle directly to the wall or melt wax to stick it—both failed. The solution was to empty the thumbtack box, tack it to the wall as a shelf, and place the candle inside. The box, though initially seen as a container for tacks, could serve as a platform. Those who succeeded had to overcome the functional fixedness of seeing the box only as a holder for tacks. This demonstrates how breaking free from traditional uses enables creative solutions.