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 the way it is traditionally used. This mental block prevents individuals from imagining alternative uses for familiar objects, thereby hindering creative problem-solving. When faced with a novel challenge, people often overlook unconventional solutions because they are ‘fixed’ on the object’s typical function. Overcoming functional fixedness requires actively redefining the object’s purpose based on its physical properties, such as shape, size, or material, rather than its conventional role.

Professor: Let me give you an example from a classic study. Participants were given a candle, a box of thumbtacks, and a book of matches. Their task was to attach the candle to the wall so that it could burn without dripping wax on the floor. Many participants tried to thumbtack the candle directly to the wall—that didn’t work because the candle was too thick. Some tried to melt the wax with the matches and stick the candle to the wall—that also failed. The solution was to empty the thumbtack box, tack the box to the wall, and use it as a shelf for the candle. But here’s the catch: participants who received the thumbtacks loose in a separate dish were much more likely to solve the problem than those who received the box with the tacks inside. Why? Because when the box contained tacks, they saw it only as a container, not as a potential platform. That’s functional fixedness—seeing the box’s typical role as a storage container blinded them to its alternative use as a candle holder.