托福口语 Task 3

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 creative problem-solving. When faced with a novel challenge, people often fail to think beyond an object's conventional function, even when a simple unconventional solution is available. Overcoming functional fixedness requires a deliberate shift in perspective, allowing the mind to reimagine the potential purposes of everyday items.

Professor: So, let me give you a classic example from a psychology 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 without dripping wax on the floor. Many participants struggled. They tried to tack the candle directly to the wall or melt wax to stick it, but those didn't work. The solution was to empty the thumbtack box, tack it to the wall as a shelf, and place the candle inside. The participants couldn't see the box as anything but a container for thumbtacks—that's functional fixedness. Once someone pointed out the box could serve as a platform, they immediately saw the solution.