托福口语 Task 3

In psychology, the concept of 'functional fixedness' refers to the tendency to see objects only in their traditional or usual way, which prevents individuals from using them in novel or creative ways to solve problems. This cognitive bias limits problem-solving because the individual fails to recognize alternative functions for familiar items. Overcoming functional fixedness often requires a mental shift, allowing the person to think beyond conventional uses.

Professor: Let me give you an example from a classic study. Participants were given a candle, a box of thumbtacks, and a book of matches, and asked to attach the candle to the wall so that it could burn without dripping wax on the floor. Most people tried to tack the candle directly to the wall or melt wax to stick it. They failed because they saw the box only as a container for thumbtacks. However, those who solved it realized the box could be used as a platform—they emptied the tacks, tacked the box to the wall, and placed the candle inside. So, the key was to overcome functional fixedness by seeing the box not just as a holder, but as a shelf.