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 imagining alternative functions for familiar items, thereby hindering creative problem-solving. When faced with a novel challenge, people often fail to see beyond an object's typical purpose, even when a simple unconventional use could solve the problem effectively.
🎧 リスニング講義
Professor: Let me illustrate this with a classic experiment. Participants were given a candle, a box of thumbtacks, and a book of matches, and asked to attach the candle to a wall so that it could burn without dripping wax on the floor. Most people tried to tack the candle directly to the wall or melt wax to stick it, but failed. The solution was to empty the thumbtack box, tack it to the wall as a platform, and place the candle inside it. The participants couldn't see the box as anything other than a container for thumbtacks—that's functional fixedness. Once the box was empty, they still saw it as a 'thumbtack box,' not as a potential shelf. Only those who overcame this mental block succeeded.
❓ 質問 Question: Using the example from the lecture, explain the concept of functional fixedness.
📊 TOEFLスピーキング評価基準
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.
💡 解答のヒント
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
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