托福口语 Task 3

In psychology, the concept of 'functional fixedness' refers to the tendency to perceive objects only in terms of their most common use, thereby limiting the ability to imagine alternative functions. This cognitive bias can hinder problem-solving because individuals fail to see novel ways to utilize familiar items. Overcoming functional fixedness often requires a deliberate shift in perspective, allowing the mind to break free from conventional associations and explore creative solutions.

Professor: Let me illustrate this with a classic 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 it could burn without dripping wax. Many struggled. They tried to tack the candle directly or melt wax to stick it. The solution was to empty the box, tack it to the wall, and use it as a platform for the candle. The failure occurred because they saw the box only as a container, not as a potential shelf. Once they mentally detached the box's typical function, they solved it easily. This shows how functional fixedness blocks creative insight.