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. Functional fixedness often arises when people become overly familiar with an object's standard function, making it difficult to imagine novel applications. Overcoming this bias requires creative thinking and the ability to reframe problems. Researchers have demonstrated this phenomenon through various experiments where participants fail to solve problems because they cannot perceive objects beyond their conventional roles.

Professor: Today, let’s talk about functional fixedness. I’ll give you an example from a classic experiment. Participants were given a box of thumbtacks, a candle, and a book of matches. Their task was to attach the candle to the wall so that it could burn properly without dripping wax on the floor. Many participants tried to tack the candle directly to the wall or melt wax to stick it—both failed. The solution was to use the empty box as a candle holder. You empty the thumbtacks, tack the box to the wall, and place the candle inside it. But most people didn’t think of using the box because they saw it only as a container for thumbtacks. They were stuck in functional fixedness. Once someone pointed out the box’s alternative use, they immediately saw it. So, the key is to break away from the usual function of an object.