托福口语 Task 3

In psychology, the concept of 'functional fixedness' refers to a cognitive bias that limits a person to using an object only in its traditional manner, preventing them from seeing its alternative uses. This mental block often hinders problem-solving because individuals fail to recognize novel applications for familiar items. For example, a person might not think of using a coin as a screwdriver because they are fixed on its monetary function. Overcoming functional fixedness requires creative thinking and the ability to reframe an object's purpose.

Professor: Let me give you a real example from a classic experiment. Participants were given a box of tacks, a candle, and a book of matches, and asked to attach the candle to the wall so it could burn without dripping wax on the floor. Many struggled because they tried to nail the candle to the wall or melt the wax to stick it. The key was to empty the tack box, tack it to the wall as a platform, and place the candle inside. But most people couldn't see the box as anything other than a container for tacks. This illustrates functional fixedness—they were so used to the box's typical role that they overlooked its potential as a shelf. Only when they broke that mental set did they solve the problem.