托福口语 Task 3

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 uses for familiar objects, thereby hindering creative problem-solving. When faced with a novel challenge, people often fail to see beyond an object's typical function, even when a creative solution is readily available. Overcoming functional fixedness requires actively redefining the potential uses of objects in one’s environment.

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. Their task was to attach the candle to a wall so that it could burn without dripping wax on the floor. Many participants tried to tack the candle directly to the wall, or melt wax with the matches and stick the candle to the wall—both failed. The solution was to empty the thumbtack box, tack the box to the wall, and place the candle inside it. But most people couldn’t see the box as anything but a container for tacks. That’s functional fixedness—they were stuck on the box’s usual function. Only those who mentally freed the box from its typical role found the answer.