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 traditional or intended functions, which inhibits creative problem-solving. When people are presented with a problem that requires using an object in an unconventional way, they often fail to see the alternative possibilities because their minds are 'fixed' on the object's usual role. This cognitive bias can be overcome by consciously re-evaluating the properties of objects and considering them in a new context.

Professor: Let me give you an example from a classic experiment. Participants were given a candle, a box of thumbtacks, and a book of matches, and they were asked to attach the candle to a wall so that it could burn without dripping wax on the floor. Many participants tried to melt the candle with matches or tack the candle directly to the wall, but none of these worked. The solution was to empty the thumbtack box, tack it to the wall, and use it as a platform for the candle. The participants who failed were stuck because they saw the box only as a container for tacks, not as a potential shelf. In another version, the tacks were presented separately from the box, and then participants solved the problem much more easily—they immediately used the box as a platform. This shows that when the box’s function as a container was not emphasized, people could overcome functional fixedness.