Definition: The tendency to see only the usual uses of objects in a problem.
This can be an obstacle to solving problems whose solutions require using common things in nontypical ways (e.g., using a matchbox as a shelf).
Functional fixedness is easily demonstrated in the lab.
The presenter questions whether functional fixedness needs to be studied in the "real" world to understand how often it affects us.
Examples of Overcoming Functional Fixedness
The slides include images from Thereifixedit.com as examples.
Examples include using duct tape to:
Create a handle.
Provide a cheap paint job.
It seems like we may not be as prone to functional fixedness outside of the lab.
Problems in a lab may not be as motivating as real-world problems (e.g., finding a way to take a shower, eat without utensils, or get by with a small budget).
However, there are also many 'real-world' problems that aren't all that motivating either.
Using Analogies
Analogy Definition: A relationship between two similar concepts, situations, or problems.
Example Analogy
DOCTOR : HOSPITAL :: (A) sports fan : stadium (B) cow : farm (C) professor : college (D) criminal : jail (E) food : grocery store
One very good way of solving hard problems is to work by analogy.
Analogies are ways of restructuring the problem so that it’s parallel to another problem that uses the same strategy to get to the solution.
Tumor Problem
Problem: A patient has an inoperable tumor. Rays will destroy the tumor if their intensity is great enough, but at that intensity, the rays will also destroy the healthy tissue surrounding the tumor. How can the tumor be destroyed without damaging the healthy surrounding tissue?
In a control group, about 10% of subjects solved this problem.
Two other groups read another problem before getting this one, which included a useful strategy.
Fortress Problem
Problem: A general wanted to capture a fortress. He needed many soldiers, but all the roads leading to the fortress were planted with mines. Small groups of soldiers could travel the roads safely, but not large groups. How could the general move all the soldiers he needed toward the fortress?
Solution: The general divided his army into small groups and sent each one down a different road. When he gave the signal, all groups marched toward the fortress where they converged and attacked successfully.
This problem is analogous to the tumor problem.
Parade Problem
A third group of subjects read a story about how the king solved a problem about a parade.
The basic strategy was to split the parade up and surround the castle.
Solution to the Tumor Problem
Split up the intensity of the radiation and attack the tumor from multiple points.
Results
Three groups of subjects:
Control group: Got only the tumor problem.
Fortress group: Got the fortress story and a hint that the stories might be related.
Parade group: Split the parade and surround the castle, they were given a hint that the two stories might be related.
Results Summary:
Fortress group did well.
Parade group did ok.
Control group did pretty badly.
Analogies are great problem-solving tools, but they’re hard to use because you don’t necessarily see the connection.
Even the hint wasn’t good enough for a lot of people in the parade group, as that connection was less obvious.
Problem Solving in Other Animals
We often overlook the intelligence of other animals.
They can solve some tricky problems sometimes.
Examples
The presenter shows a video about cooperation and problem-solving in animals.
The video features an animal trying to get a worm in a tiny bucket at the bottom of a cylinder, using a little straight stick.
The animal eventually uses water to solve the problem.