托福口语 Task 3

In psychology, the concept of 'functional fixedness' refers to the tendency to perceive an object only in terms of its typical or intended function, which limits our ability to use it in novel ways to solve problems. This cognitive bias often prevents individuals from seeing alternative uses for familiar items, thereby hindering creative problem-solving. Overcoming functional fixedness requires a mental shift to consider unconventional applications of objects.

Professor: Now let me illustrate this with a classic experiment. Participants were given a candle, a box of tacks, and a book of matches, and asked to attach the candle to a wall so it could burn without dripping wax on the floor. Many struggled because they saw the tack box only as a container for tacks. However, those who succeeded realized they could empty the box, tack it to the wall, and use it as a platform for the candle. The key was to overcome the fixed idea that the box's sole function was to hold tacks. This demonstrates how breaking functional fixedness leads to a creative solution.