托福口语 Task 3

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. This mental block prevents individuals from seeing novel or alternative uses for familiar items, thereby hindering creative problem-solving. When faced with a challenge, people often become 'fixed' on the object's typical function, ignoring other potential applications that could lead to a solution.

Professor: Now, let me give you an example from a classic psychology study. Participants were given a box of tacks, a candle, and matches, and were asked to attach the candle to a wall so it could burn properly. Some participants tried to tack the candle directly to the wall, but it broke. Others tried to melt the candle wax with matches and stick it to the wall, but it fell. Only those who realized that the box could be used as a platform succeeded. They emptied the tacks from the box, tacked the box to the wall, and placed the candle inside it. The ones who failed were stuck seeing the box only as a container for tacks, not as a potential shelf. That's functional fixedness in action.