TOEFL Speaking 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. When people experience functional fixedness, they fail to see alternative uses for familiar objects, which can hinder problem-solving. This bias is often overcome through creative thinking or by restructuring the problem. Psychologists study this phenomenon to understand how mental sets can block innovation and how individuals can break free from conventional assumptions to find novel solutions.

Professor: Let me give you an example from a classic experiment. Participants were given a box of thumbtacks, a candle, and a book of matches. They were asked to attach the candle to a wall so that it could burn without dripping wax on the floor. Many struggled. The typical solution is to use the box as a platform—tack the empty box to the wall, place the candle on it, and light it. But because the box was presented as a container for the tacks, participants saw it only as a holder, not as a potential shelf. This is functional fixedness. However, when the tacks were presented separately from the box, participants solved it much faster. They could then see the box as a possible platform. This shows how breaking the usual function of an object helps overcome the bias.