TOEFLスピーキング 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 problem-solving and creativity. When faced with a challenge, people often become 'fixated' on an object's typical function, making it difficult to think of novel solutions. Overcoming functional fixedness requires a conscious effort to reframe the problem and consider unconventional applications of available resources.

Professor: So, let me give you a classic example from psychology. In one study, participants were asked to solve a problem: they had a box of thumbtacks, a candle, and a book of matches, and they needed to attach the candle to the wall so that it could burn without dripping wax on the floor. Many people tried to tack the candle directly to the wall, or melt wax to stick it, but that didn't work. The key was to empty the thumbtack box, tack it to the wall, and use it as a platform for the candle. Those who saw the box as just a container for tacks failed to solve it. But participants who were told the box was empty—or who were primed to think of it as a shelf—solved it easily. This shows how functional fixedness—seeing the box only as a tack holder—blocked their creativity.