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, which hinders creative problem-solving. Overcoming functional fixedness requires reimagining an object's potential functions beyond its typical purpose.

Professor: So, let me give you a classic example. In a study, participants were given a candle, a box of thumbtacks, and a book of matches. Their task was to attach the candle to a wall so that it could burn properly. Many participants tried to tack the candle directly to the wall or use melted wax to stick it, but they failed. The solution was to empty the thumbtack box, tack it to the wall, and use it as a platform for the candle. Those who saw the box only as a container for thumbtacks suffered from functional fixedness. But once they realized the box could serve as a shelf, they solved the problem easily.