Overview
This lecture explores the concept of selective attention using the Monkey Business Illusion, highlighting how focusing on one task can cause us to overlook unexpected events.
The Monkey Business Illusion
- Viewers are asked to count how many times players in white pass a ball.
- The correct number of passes is 16.
Inattentional Blindness
- About half of first-time viewers miss a person in a gorilla suit walking through the scene.
- If you expect the gorilla, you are more likely to notice it.
- Many viewers miss additional changes, like the curtain changing color or a player leaving, when focusing on the gorilla.
- Focusing on finding one unexpected event can make you miss others.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Selective Attention — focusing on specific information while ignoring other stimuli.
- Inattentional Blindness — failure to notice unexpected events when attention is engaged elsewhere.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Visit theinvisiblegorilla.com to learn more about the illusion and related experiments.