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 problem-solving and creativity. 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 effort to reframe the problem and consider all possible properties of the object.

Professor: Let me give you an example from a classic experiment. Participants were asked to attach a candle to a wall using only a box of tacks and a book of matches. Most people struggled. They tried to nail the candle directly to the wall or melt wax to stick it. But the key was to realize that the box itself could be used as a platform. By emptying the tacks, they could nail the box to the wall and place the candle on top. Why did they fail initially? Because they saw the box only as a container for tacks—that's functional fixedness. Once they overcame that bias and saw the box as a potential shelf, the solution became obvious. This shows how mental blocks limit creative problem-solving.