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 fail to see beyond an object's typical function, even when that object could easily be repurposed to solve the problem. Overcoming functional fixedness requires a deliberate shift in perspective, often facilitated by hints or analogies that suggest unconventional uses.

Professor: Let me give you a classic example from a study. Participants were asked to attach a candle to a wall so that it wouldn't drip wax on the floor. They were given a box of thumbtacks, a book of matches, and the candle itself. Many participants struggled. They tried to tack the candle directly to the wall or melt the wax to stick it. But they failed. The solution was to empty the box, tack the box to the wall as a platform, and then place the candle inside the box. Why did so many fail? Because they saw the box only as a container for thumbtacks, not as a potential shelf. That's functional fixedness. Once someone suggested using the box as a platform, participants immediately saw the solution. Simple, right?