托福口语 Task 3

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, thereby preventing them from imagining alternative uses for that object. This mental block can hinder problem-solving and creativity, as individuals fail to see beyond an object’s intended function. Overcoming functional fixedness often requires a deliberate shift in perspective or a conscious effort to think divergently.

Professor: Let me illustrate this with a classic experiment. In the study, participants were given a box of thumbtacks, a candle, and a book of matches, and asked to attach the candle to a wall so that it could burn without dripping wax on the floor. Many participants tried to tack the candle directly to the wall or melt wax to stick it, but these failed. The solution, however, was to empty the thumbtack box, tack it to the wall as a shelf, and place the candle inside. The participants who saw the box as just a container for tacks suffered from functional fixedness. They couldn't see the box as a potential platform. Only when they mentally broke free from the box's 'container' function did they solve the problem. This shows how functional fixedness can block creative solutions in everyday tasks.