TOEFL 말하기 Task 3

In psychology, the concept of 'functional fixedness' refers to the tendency to perceive objects only in terms of their typical or intended functions, which limits creative problem-solving. When faced with a novel challenge, individuals often fail to see alternative uses for familiar items because their minds are 'fixed' on conventional roles. Overcoming functional fixedness requires cognitive flexibility, allowing one to reimagine objects beyond their standard purposes. This phenomenon is a common barrier in both everyday tasks and complex problem-solving scenarios.

Professor: Let me illustrate this with a classic experiment. Participants were given a box of thumbtacks, a candle, and a book of matches, and asked to attach the candle to a wall so it could burn properly. Many struggled because they kept thinking of the box only as a container for tacks. But the solution was to empty the box, tack it to the wall, and use it as a shelf for the candle. Those who succeeded had to break their mental set—seeing the box not as a holder but as a platform. Interestingly, when the tacks were presented separately from the box, participants solved it much faster because the box's typical function wasn't primed. So, functional fixedness blocks creative insight until we consciously reframe an object's role.