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 hindering creative problem-solving. When people are faced with a new challenge, they often fail to see alternative uses for familiar objects because their minds are 'fixed' on the object's intended function. This mental block can prevent innovative solutions, even when obvious alternatives exist.

Professor: Now, let me give you a classic example from a psychology experiment. Participants were given a candle, a box of thumbtacks, and a book of matches. They were asked to attach the candle to the wall so that it could burn without dripping wax on the floor. Many struggled because they tried to tack the candle directly to the wall or melt the wax to stick it. But the solution was to empty the thumbtack box, tack it to the wall as a shelf, and place the candle inside. The participants who succeeded realized the box was not just a container but could serve as a platform. Those who failed were stuck on the box's usual function—holding tacks. This shows how functional fixedness prevented them from seeing the box's alternative use.