托福口语 Task 3

In psychology, the concept of 'functional fixedness' refers to a cognitive bias that limits a person to using an object only in its traditional manner. When faced with a problem, individuals often fail to see alternative uses for familiar items because their minds are fixed on the object's conventional function. This mental block can hinder creative problem-solving. Overcoming functional fixedness requires reimagining an object's potential beyond its typical role, which is a key aspect of innovative thinking.

Professor: Let me give you an example from a classic experiment. Participants were given a box of thumbtacks, a candle, and a book of matches. Their task was to attach the candle to a wall so that it could burn without dripping wax on the floor. Most people tried to tack the candle directly to the wall or melt wax to stick it, but these failed. The solution was to empty the thumbtack box, tack it to the wall as a platform, and place the candle inside. Why did they struggle? Because they saw the box only as a container for tacks—functional fixedness. Once they rethought the box as a shelf, the problem was solved easily. This shows how breaking mental assumptions unlocks creativity.