FUNCTIONAL FIXITY

The term functional fixity was first coined by Dunker (1945) to refer to
the fact that we tend to react to an object in terms of its usually
defined function. That is, a hammer is used to drive nails but is not
frequently used as a paperweight, although obviously it could be. In an
experiment by Adamson (1954) subjects were presented with a table on
which there were a number of items, including three different-sized
pasteboard boxes. One box contained candles, another matches, and the
third thumbtacks. The subjects were told to mount the candles in a
burning position on the wall. The solution would be to empty the boxes,
tack them to the wall, and then stick the candles on them. However, the
boxes were already perceived as serving the function of containers. Only
12 out of 29 solved the problem, but when the boxes were presented empty,
24 out of 28 attained the solution. The degree to which people employ
objects for other purposes (i.e., break the functional-fixity set) has
been used as a test of creativity.

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