托福口语 Task 3

In psychology, the concept of 'functional fixedness' refers to the tendency to perceive objects only in their traditional or most common use, which limits creative problem-solving. When people are faced with a problem, they often fail to see alternative functions for familiar items, because their minds are 'fixed' on the conventional purpose. This cognitive bias can hinder innovation and adaptation, especially in unfamiliar situations. Overcoming functional fixedness requires actively reimagining the potential uses of objects beyond their typical roles.

Professor: Let me give you a classic example from a study. Participants were given a box of thumbtacks, a candle, and a book of matches, and asked to attach the candle to the wall so it could burn without dripping wax on the floor. Many struggled because they tried to tack the candle directly to the wall or melt wax to stick it, which failed. The solution was to empty the thumbtack box, tack the box to the wall as a shelf, and place the candle on it. The box was usually seen only as a container for thumbtacks, not as a platform. Once participants realized the box could serve a different function, they solved the problem easily. This demonstrates how functional fixedness prevents us from seeing novel uses for everyday objects.