托福口语 Task 3

In psychology, the concept of 'functional fixedness' refers to the tendency to perceive an object only in terms of its most common use, thereby limiting the ability to think of alternative functions. This cognitive bias can hinder problem-solving because individuals fail to see beyond the conventional purpose of an item. Overcoming functional fixedness often requires a creative leap, where one reimagines familiar objects in novel contexts.

Professor: Let me illustrate this with a classic experiment. Participants were given a box of thumbtacks, a candle, and a book of matches. Their task was to attach the candle to the wall so it could burn properly. Many tried to melt the candle with matches and stick it to the wall, or use the tacks directly on the candle—all failed. The solution was to empty the box, tack the box to the wall, and place the candle inside. But most people couldn't see the box as anything but a container for tacks. That's functional fixedness—they were stuck on the box's typical role. Once someone realized the box could serve as a shelf instead, the problem was easily solved.