托福口语 Task 3

The concept of 'functional fixedness' refers to the tendency to perceive objects only in terms of their most common or intended use, which can hinder problem-solving. When individuals are confronted with a challenge that requires an unconventional use of an object, their mental set restricts creative thinking. Overcoming functional fixedness often involves restructuring the problem or deliberately considering alternative functions for familiar items. This cognitive bias is a classic barrier in both everyday tasks and formal problem-solving scenarios, as it limits flexibility and innovation.

Professor: Let me give you an example from a classic psychology experiment. Participants were given a box of thumbtacks, a candle, 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. Many struggled. The typical approach was to try to tack the candle directly or melt wax to stick it—neither worked. The solution was to empty the thumbtack box, tack it to the wall as a platform, and place the candle inside it. Why did people fail initially? Because they saw the box only as a container for thumbtacks, not as a potential shelf. That's functional fixedness. Once they reframed the box's purpose, the problem became easy. So, in essence, the bias prevented them from using an object in a novel way until they consciously overcame it.