In psychology, 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 imagining alternative uses for familiar objects, thereby hindering creative problem-solving. When faced with a novel challenge, people often overlook unconventional solutions because they are fixated on an object's standard function. Overcoming functional fixedness requires a deliberate effort to think beyond conventional associations and re-evaluate the properties of objects in new contexts.
🎧 Bài giảng
Professor: Let me illustrate this with a classic experiment. Participants were given a box of thumbtacks, a candle, and a book of matches, and were asked to attach the candle to a wall so that it could burn without dripping wax on the floor. Many struggled, because they saw the box only as a container for thumbtacks, not as a potential shelf. The solution was to empty the box, tack it to the wall, and place the candle inside it. But in a different group, the thumbtacks were presented separately from the box, and participants solved it much faster—they immediately saw the box as a platform. So the first group suffered from functional fixedness: they couldn't break away from the box's typical role as a storage container.
❓ Câu hỏi Using the example from the lecture, explain the concept of functional fixedness and how it affects problem-solving.
📊 Tiêu chí chấm TOEFL Speaking Task 3
Delivery: Fluency, pronunciation, intonation
Language Use: Grammar, vocabulary, sentence variety
Topic Development: Accurately explain the reading concept and restate the lecture examples
Scored 0-30 based on holistic scoring (original 0-4, scaled to 30). 30s preparation, 60s response.
💡 Mẹo làm bài
Note the core concept definition from the reading (usually 1-2 sentences)
Record 1-2 specific examples the professor uses in the lecture
Start with the concept definition, then explain with lecture examples
Use template phrases: "The reading defines... The professor illustrates this by..."
Keep within 60s; ensure clarity and fluency
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⚠️ AI 自动评分基于托福官方口语三大维度（Delivery / Language Use / Topic Development）标准开发，结果仅供练习参考。
