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 the way it is traditionally used. This mental block prevents individuals from seeing alternative uses for familiar objects, thereby hindering problem-solving and creativity. Overcoming functional fixedness often requires a shift in perspective, allowing one to reimagine the object's potential functions beyond its conventional purpose.

Professor: Let me give you an 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 a wall so 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, but both failed. The solution was to empty the tack box, tack it to the wall as a platform, and place the candle inside it. The problem was that participants saw the box only as a container for tacks, not as a potential shelf. Once they overcame that mental block, they could solve it easily.