托福口语 Task 3

The concept of 'functional fixedness' refers to the tendency of individuals to perceive an object only in terms of its most common use, thereby limiting their ability to think of novel or alternative functions for that object. This cognitive bias can hinder problem-solving because it prevents people from seeing beyond the conventional purpose of a tool or item. Overcoming functional fixedness often requires a creative shift in perspective, allowing the mind to reinterpret familiar objects in unfamiliar ways.

Professor: So, let me give you an example from a classic psychology experiment. Participants were given a candle, a box of thumbtacks, 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 people tried tacking the candle directly to the wall or melting wax to stick it, but these failed. The solution was to empty the thumbtack box, tack it to the wall, and use it as a platform for the candle. Most participants couldn't see the box as anything but a container for tacks—that's functional fixedness. Once someone realized the box could serve as a shelf, the problem was solved easily.