托福口语 Task 3

The concept of 'functional fixedness' refers to the mental block that prevents people from using an object in a new way beyond its typical function. This cognitive bias limits problem-solving because individuals become anchored to an object's conventional purpose. Overcoming functional fixedness requires creative thinking, where one reimagines familiar items in novel contexts. Psychologists study this phenomenon to understand how prior knowledge can hinder, rather than help, in certain situations.

Professor: Let me illustrate this with a classic experiment. Participants were given a box of thumbtacks, a candle, and matches, and asked to attach the candle to the wall so it could burn properly. Most people tried to tack the candle directly to the wall or melt wax with the matches to stick it—both failed. They were stuck because they saw the box only as a container for thumbtacks. The solution was to empty the box, tack it to the wall, and place the candle inside. Those who succeeded overcame functional fixedness by seeing the box as a potential shelf, not just a box. This shows how our usual perception of an object's function can blind us to creative alternatives.