title: Control blindness: Why people can make incorrect inferences about the intentions of others.
abstract: There is limited evidence regarding the accuracy of inferences about intention. The research described in this article shows how perceptual control theory (PCT) can provide a "ground truth" for these judgments. In a series of 3 studies, participants were asked to identify a person's intention in a tracking task where the person's true intention was to control the position of a knot connecting a pair of rubber bands. Most participants failed to correctly infer the person's intention, instead inferring complex but nonexistent goals (such as "tracing out two kangaroos boxing") based on the actions taken to keep the knot under control. Therefore, most of our participants experienced what we call "control blindness." The effect persisted with many participants even when their awareness was successfully directed at the knot whose position was under control. Beyond exploring the control blindness phenomenon in the context of our studies, we discuss its implications for psychological research and public policy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cognitive Science, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, New York, 12604, USA.
authors.forename: Ashlan S.
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Willett
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Antioch University, Los Angeles, USA.
authors.forename: Richard S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Marken
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, 2nd Floor Zochonis Building, Brunswick Street, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK.
authors.forename: Maximilian G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Parker
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, 2nd Floor Zochonis Building, Brunswick Street, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK. warren.mansell@manchester.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Warren
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Mansell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D007600:Judgment / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D011582:Psychological Theory; D056345:Theory of Mind / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Control theory; Inference; Intentional state; Theory of mind