Why Defamiliarization Sparks Innovation
Functional fixedness locks objects into single-purpose thinking. By forcing yourself to reimagine familiar items, you break these mental constraints, training your brain to see beyond default assumptions—a skill that transfers to all problem-solving.
Functional fixedness is a major creativity blocker; studies show that defamiliarization exercises reduce it by up to 50%
The 'candle problem' and similar tests demonstrate that seeing objects as multi-purpose predicts creative achievement in real-world tasks
Reimagining familiar objects activates the anterior cingulate cortex, which detects conflicts between default assumptions and novel interpretations
How to Reimagine Common Objects
Pick a mundane object you use daily (fork, shoe, chair, phone, etc.)
Ask: 'What else could this be? What if it had a completely different purpose?'
Generate 3-5 reimaginings: alternate uses, forms, contexts, or meanings
Push past obvious answers ('a fork could be a comb') to absurd ones ('a fork could be a constellation map')
Sketch or write down your most interesting reimagining
What You'll Gain
Breaks functional fixedness, the tendency to see objects as single-purpose
Trains your brain to challenge default assumptions in all areas
Develops mental flexibility and multiperspectival thinking
Reveals hidden creative potential in familiar situations and problems
Builds comfort with seeing the world as malleable rather than fixed