#functional fixedness

How creativity is crucial for raising the next generation of innovators whose mindset and problem-solving skills will solve today’s (and tomorrow’s) greatest challenges...

This week I’m over on the Northern Beaches Mums’ website talking about the power of creativity, children and how it will save their future. Creativity is crucial for raising the next generation of innovators whose mindset and problem-solving skills will solve today’s (and tomorrow’s) greatest challenges. Here’s my article:

https://www.northernbeachesmums.com.au/kri-ei-tiviti-for-your-childs-f…

In this last cognitive psych blog post, I would like to talk about two forms of problem solving: functional fixedness, and something labeled more informally as “thinking outside the box.” Functional fixedness is a cognitive bias that tends to limit a person’s interpretation of what objects can be used for. It was conceived by Gestalt psychologists, who basically focus on perceptions and behaviors. Functional fixedness is considered a process of problem solving. However, the fixedness portion of the title is what stops people from being able to solve certain given problems. Basically, our fixed perceptions of how objects are supposed to be used can set up a road block when it comes to thinking of different methods to use objects. For example, the famous example of the matchbook and the candle is an example of functional fixedness examined by Duncker in 1945. In the example, participants of a study had to figure out how to make sure a candle did not drip wax onto the table, but they were only given a book of matches, a little box of thumb tacks, and the candle. I like to think of functional fixedness problems as trick questions. To solve this problem, you have to think outside of the metaphorical box and not only know that you have to use the box that the tacks were in, but also know that you have to use the wall in front of you, which was not a specifically spoken about object.

I wanted to explore some other, closer to real life, examples of functional fixedness, which brought me to this site. Here, you can see some pretty creative solutions (some better than others obviously) to certain problems or situations. For example, this fountain made out of little kid pools! A much cooler example of functional fixedness, in my opinion, is the Rube Goldberg machine! As stated on Wikipedia, a Rube Goldberg machine can be defined as “a contraption, invention, device, or apparatus that is deliberately over-engineered or overdone to perform a very simple task in a very complicated fashion…” The Rube Goldberg machine takes functional fixedness out of the picture completely, because to make one, it’s pretty impossible to have the mindset that, say, a candle is a candle and it’s only purpose is to give off light. Instead, a Rube Goldberg machine might show us that a candle is something meant to burn a rope to set off the next reaction in a chain of events. It’s a little far-fetched, but bear with me here. To show a popular example of the wonderful Rube Goldberg machine, I suggest watching OK Go’s “This Too Shall Pass” music video. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qybUFnY7Y8w)

In this video we see a toy truck being used to start a chain reaction of dominos, some spoons becoming platforms for little metal balls to bounce off of, a tire being used to turn on a series of lamps, and a teapot being used as a weight. These are all very abnormal functions of these objects, therefore demonstrating that the creators of this odd machine have absolutely no problem getting past their functional fixedness.

NO FUNCTIONAL FIXEDNESS.

1. observation: Big water bottles are filled up and placed on all balconies

reason: To keep the birds away.  Birds see the reflection of the water, get confused, and no longer want to land on the balconies or try to fly into the room through the glass doors. 

2. observation: Broken glass glued onto walls

reason: Home-made barbed wire for security.  Broken glass is seen on top of many walls, especially surrounding houses, to keep animals and people from climbing over the walls.  Great form or reuse!

3. observation: half-filled water bottles tied to vendor signs

reason: To weigh down the signs that bring them business.  Another awesome form of reuse, especially since Thailand drinks so much water, there is always a surplus of empty water bottles.  (If I bring 3 water bottles in to school to recycle I can borrow a bike from campus for the day).

4. observation: CDs glued everywhere