📖 읽기 자료
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 often arises from past experiences and habitual thinking, making it difficult to approach challenges with a fresh perspective. Overcoming this bias requires conscious effort to think beyond conventional functions and explore novel applications of available resources.
🎧 듣기 강의
Professor: To illustrate functional fixedness, consider a classic experiment. Participants were given a candle, a box of thumbtacks, and a book of matches, and asked to attach the candle to a wall so it could burn without dripping wax on the floor. Many struggled because they saw the box only as a container for thumbtacks. The solution, however, was to empty the box, tack it to the wall, and place the candle inside. Those who failed were fixated on the box's typical function—holding tacks—and couldn't see it as a platform. This demonstrates how functional fixedness blocks creative problem-solving.