托福口语 Task 3

The concept of 'functional fixedness' refers to the tendency of individuals to perceive objects only in terms of their typical or intended use, which limits their ability to imagine alternative functions. This cognitive bias can hinder problem-solving, as people fail to see novel solutions that require using familiar objects in unconventional ways. Overcoming functional fixedness often involves restructuring the problem or actively seeking creative perspectives.

Professor: Let me illustrate this with an experiment. Participants were given a candle, a box of tacks, and a book of matches, and asked to attach the candle to a wall so it could burn without dripping wax on the floor. Many struggled. They tried tacking the candle directly to the wall or melting wax with the matches. But the solution was to empty the tack box, tack it to the wall as a platform, and place the candle inside. Why did they fail? Because they saw the box only as a container for tacks, not as a potential shelf. That's functional fixedness—they were stuck on the box's usual function. Once someone pointed out the box could serve as a holder, they solved it immediately.