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. When faced with a problem, individuals often fail to see alternative uses for familiar items, which hinders creative problem-solving. Overcoming functional fixedness requires mental flexibility and the ability to think beyond conventional functions.

Professor: Let me give you an example from a classic study. Participants were given a box of tacks, a candle, and a book of matches, and asked to attach the candle to a wall so it could burn properly. Most people tried nailing the candle directly to the wall or melting wax to stick it, but they failed. The solution was to empty the tack box, tack it to the wall as a platform, and then place the candle inside. The problem was that participants saw the box only as a container for tacks, not as a potential shelf. Once they realized the box could serve a different function, they solved it easily.