Did you see that?
Did you see that?
Being a psychology major I enjoy reading studies both new and old. This past week I came across one that talked about how we tend to not notice things that are right in front of us. How can we be so blind to not see these things? So I kept reading and this is what I discovered.
In 1998 researchers from Harvard and Kent State University conducted a study on a college campus where they asked people how well they knew their surroundings. For some, this may sound like a simple task but the results were shocking.
The experiment began with an actor asking someone for directions. While the person was giving directions two men carried a large wooden door and walked in between the actor and the person giving directions. This blocked the line of sight for both people for a few seconds. During this moment the actor was replaced by another actor. This new actor was of different height, build, had a different outfit, haircut, and even their voice was different! At this point, you may be thinking how could you not notice a difference, but many didn't.
The results showed that half of the participants didn't notice the change! This phenomenon came to be called "change blindness". This is when we become selective of what we take in from any given visual scene (dictionary.com). We tend to lack in the memory department more than we think and it's something I believe we should definitely work on.
Now if you think you could've passed this experiment with flying colors why don't you take these quick tests below and learn more about change blindness! Now, remember, pay attention!
This is interesting! I remember once, an old boyfriend of mine was tired of me worrying about my looks, and he said (gently, helpfully), "What makes you think anyone is looking at you? Everyone is busy worrying about themselves." It hurt a little but it stuck with me and I recall it in light of your post. Thanks!
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