Expecting the unexpected does not improve one’s chances of seeing it (w/ Video)
Interesting little experiment:
A new study finds that those who know that an unexpected event is likely to occur are no better at noticing other unexpected events - and may be even worse - than those who aren’t expecting the unexpected.
By modifying a famous experiment involving a person in a gorilla suit and two teams of people passing basketballs back and forth, Simons demonstrated that expecting the unexpected does not improve one’s chances of seeing it.
Link includes description and a couple of videos.
I wonder if this phenomenon - of people not being able to see the unusual even when anticipating it - could explain so much of society around us?