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 recognizing alternative uses for familiar objects, thereby hindering creative problem-solving. Functional fixedness often arises when people become overly familiar with an object's conventional function, making it difficult to perceive novel applications. Overcoming this bias requires deliberately stepping outside habitual thought patterns to explore unconventional possibilities.
🎧 Bài giảng
Professor: Let me illustrate functional fixedness with a classic experiment. Participants were given a candle, a box of tacks, and a book of matches, and were asked to attach the candle to a wall so it could burn properly. Many tried to tack the candle directly to the wall or melt wax to stick it, but failed. The solution was to empty the tack box, tack it to the wall, and use it as a platform for the candle. Most people couldn't see the box as anything but a container for tacks—that's functional fixedness. In another version, when the tacks were presented separately from the box, participants solved the problem much faster because they saw the box as a potential shelf, not just a holder.
❓ Câu hỏi Question: Using the example from the lecture, explain the concept of functional fixedness.
📊 Tiêu chí chấm TOEFL Speaking Task 3
Delivery: Fluency, pronunciation, intonation
Language Use: Grammar, vocabulary, sentence variety
Topic Development: Accurately explain the reading concept and restate the lecture examples
Scored 0-30 based on holistic scoring (original 0-4, scaled to 30). 30s preparation, 60s response.
💡 Mẹo làm bài
Note the core concept definition from the reading (usually 1-2 sentences)
Record 1-2 specific examples the professor uses in the lecture
Start with the concept definition, then explain with lecture examples
Use template phrases: "The reading defines... The professor illustrates this by..."
Keep within 60s; ensure clarity and fluency
🎤 免费 AI 口语评分
基于 2800+ 托福真题评分库 · 无限次免费使用
⚠️ AI 自动评分基于托福官方口语三大维度（Delivery / Language Use / Topic Development）标准开发，结果仅供练习参考。
