The Candle Problem.$$$.

[David]

...a simple fact we've known since 1962: using money as a motivator makes us less capable at problem-solving. It actually makes us dumber.


The Candle Problem was first presented by Karl Duncker. Published posthumously in 1945, "On problem solving" describes how Duncker provided subjects with a candle, some matches, and a box of tacks. He told each subject to affix the candle to a cork board wall in such a way that when lit, the candle won't drip wax on the table below (see figure at right). Can you think of the answer?




...Sam Glucksberg added a fascinating twist to this finding in his 1962 paper, "Influece of strength of drive on functional fixedness and perceptual recognition." He studied the effect of financial incentives on solving the candle problem. To one group he offered no money. To the other group he offered an amount of money for solving the problem fast. ...

 story here - http://blogs.nature.com/a_mad_hemorrhage/2012/04/02/ceos-and-the-candle-problem

[cringe.]

looks like a dildo problem

[David]

lol

[Perro Mojado]

no wonder why rap music isnt good anymore

[David]

The weird thing is that taking all the tacks out of the box seems to be half the issue. It cuts the completion time in half and is the pivotal move where money begins to make a difference as a motivator once that phase is eliminated. The thing could be called the 'Tacks in A Box' problem. The stage of overcoming the 'functional fixedness'  is where the money incentives don't seem to help and actually make things worse.