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 seeing alternative uses for familiar objects, thereby hindering problem-solving and creativity. Functional fixedness often arises from past experiences and habitual thinking, making it difficult to approach challenges from a fresh perspective. Overcoming this bias requires conscious effort to think divergently and consider unconventional applications of everyday items.

Professor: Let me give you an example from a classic experiment. Participants were given a box of thumbtacks, a candle, and a match, and asked to attach the candle to a wall so it could burn properly. Most people tried to tack the candle directly to the wall or melt wax to stick it, but these failed. The solution was to empty the box, tack it to the wall as a platform, and place the candle inside. However, many participants couldn't see the box as anything but a container for tacks. This illustrates functional fixedness—they were fixated on the box's typical function. Interestingly, when the tacks were presented outside the box, participants solved the problem much faster, because the box was no longer perceived as just a holder.