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. When faced with a problem, individuals often fail to see alternative functions for familiar objects, which hinders creative problem-solving. This bias can be overcome by consciously thinking about the properties of objects beyond their typical purpose. Functional fixedness is a common barrier in everyday situations and has been studied extensively to understand how people approach novel challenges.

Professor: Let me give you a classic example from a study. Participants were given a candle, a box of tacks, and a book of matches. Their task was to attach the candle to the wall so it could burn without dripping wax on the floor. Many struggled. They tried to tack the candle directly to the wall, but it broke or fell. Why? Because they saw the box only as a container for tacks. They were functionally fixed on its usual role. However, one participant solved it by emptying the tacks, using the box as a shelf, and tacking the box to the wall, then placing the candle on top. By seeing the box as a platform instead of a container, this person overcame functional fixedness.