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. When faced with a problem, individuals often fail to see alternative uses for familiar objects, which hinders creative problem-solving. Overcoming this bias requires mental flexibility to reframe the object's potential functions beyond its typical purpose.
🎧 듣기 강의
Professor: Let me give you a classic example. Imagine you need to light a candle and attach it to a wall. You have a box of tacks, a candle, and matches. Most people try to tack the candle directly to the wall, or melt wax to stick it, but they fail. The solution is to empty the tack box, tack it to the wall as a shelf, and place the candle inside. Why do people struggle? Because they see the box only as a container for tacks—that's functional fixedness. Once they realize the box can serve as a platform, the problem is solved. This shows how breaking mental set leads to creative solutions.
❓ 문제 Question: Using the example from the lecture, explain the concept of functional fixedness.
📊 TOEFL 말하기 평가 기준
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.
💡 답변 팁
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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