托福口语 Task 3

The concept of 'functional fixedness' refers to the tendency of individuals to perceive objects only in terms of their typical or intended functions, which can hinder creative problem-solving. When people are faced with a challenge, they often fail to see alternative uses for familiar items because their mental representation of the object is rigidly tied to its conventional role. This cognitive bias limits flexibility and innovation, as the individual overlooks novel ways to utilize available resources. Overcoming functional fixedness requires a deliberate shift in perspective to recognize that objects can serve multiple purposes beyond their original design.

Professor: Let me illustrate this with an experiment from my own research. In a study, I gave participants a simple task: they had to fix a broken shelf by supporting it with a stack of books. However, the only available heavy objects were a coffee mug and a paperweight. Most participants immediately grabbed the paperweight because they saw it as a weight. But the coffee mug—they only thought of it as a container for drinking. They failed to realize that the mug, being heavy and solid, could also serve as a support. Only when I hinted that the mug could be turned upside down and used as a block did they succeed. This shows that their functional fixedness prevented them from using the mug in a novel way, even though it was perfectly suitable. Once they broke that mental barrier, they solved the problem instantly.