托福口语 Task 3

In psychology, the concept of 'functional fixedness' refers to the tendency to perceive objects only in terms of their typical or intended use, which can hinder problem-solving. When people encounter a problem, they often fail to see alternative uses for familiar objects, limiting their ability to find creative solutions. This cognitive bias is a well-known barrier to effective thinking and innovation.

Professor: Let me illustrate this with a classic experiment. Participants were given a box of tacks, a candle, and a book of matches, and were asked to attach the candle to a wall so that it could burn without dripping wax on the floor. Many tried nailing the candle to the wall or gluing it with melted wax, but those failed. The solution was to empty the tack box, tack it to the wall, and use it as a platform for the candle. However, most people didn't think of using the box this way because they saw it only as a container for tacks. This is functional fixedness—they were stuck on the box's typical function. Once someone pointed out the box could serve as a shelf, they saw it immediately.