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 its traditional manner. This mental block prevents individuals from seeing alternative uses for familiar items, thereby hindering problem-solving. When faced with a challenge, people often become 'fixated' on the object's typical function, overlooking creative solutions. Overcoming functional fixedness requires a conscious effort to think beyond conventional uses and to re-conceptualize the object's potential based on its physical properties rather than its intended purpose.

Professor: Let me illustrate this with a classic experiment. Participants were given a box of thumbtacks, a candle, and a book of matches, and asked to attach the candle to a wall so that it could burn properly. Many struggled because they tried to tack the candle directly to the wall or melt wax to stick it. The solution, however, was to empty the box, tack the box to the wall, and place the candle inside it. The box was originally seen as a container for tacks, not as a platform. Once participants realized the box could serve as a shelf, they solved the problem. This shows how functional fixedness—seeing the box only as a holder—blocked their creativity until they mentally redefined its use.