TOEFLスピーキング Task 3

In psychology, the concept of 'functional fixedness' refers to the tendency to see objects only in their traditional or usual way, which can limit creative problem-solving. When people encounter a problem, they often fail to think of alternative uses for familiar items because their minds are fixed on the object's standard function. Overcoming functional fixedness requires cognitive flexibility—the ability to break away from conventional associations and reimagine objects in new contexts. This mental barrier can hinder innovation in both everyday tasks and complex challenges.

Professor: Let me give you a classic example from a well-known experiment. Participants were given a box of thumbtacks, a candle, and a book of matches, and asked to attach the candle to the wall so it could burn properly without dripping wax on the floor. Most people tried to tack the candle directly to the wall or melt wax to stick it, but those attempts failed. The solution was to empty the thumbtack box, tack it to the wall as a shelf, and place the candle inside. Many participants couldn't see the box as anything other than a container for tacks—that's functional fixedness. But once they realized the box could serve as a platform, they solved the problem easily. The key was breaking the usual association of the box with holding tacks.