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So you think you are situationally aware?

bohdi

Regular Member
Joined
Mar 21, 2007
Messages
1,753
Location
Centreville, Virginia, USA
Lol, yeah, it's much easier to miss 21 things that get changed than just 1 :) I wasn't attempting to make a statement that this was a fantastic video, just that it's an interesting example of how folks might not be aware as they think they are - even if they are looking for something. They are both interesting examples really.
 

Citizen

Founder's Club Member
Joined
Nov 15, 2006
Messages
18,269
Location
Fairfax Co., VA
Cognitive psychologists?!?! These jerks annoy me to no end. What a bunch of idiots.

It does not take an in-depth study to figure out that if someone has their attention focused on something, they may not notice something else. What a bunch of unreliable charlatans.

A fella I know once got all wrapped up in the "cute" question posed by psychologists, "How does a child learn the difference between 'Dal lascowboys' and 'Dallas Cowboys?' Like it takes a degree to figure that one out. We all know kids get words turned sideways. Things like the opening words to the national anthem, "Jose, can you see?" Obviously, at some point(s) a kid learns that Dallas is a city in Texas and that Cowboys are a football team. Then puts it together. But, oh no. Psychologists have to get it all wrapped up in psychobabble with lots of "importance" attached.

Cognitive psychologists. Phfft. What a waste of public grant money.

The best (ridiculous) part of the article is the part about expecting the unexpected. Rubbish. Simply put, if we just view something, say our environment, without expection, letting our attention sweep back and forth without focusing on anything, that is when we notice things.

The whole game in the gorilla and murder videos is that they trick you into focusing your attention on something in the first place. The psych article almost says as much.

Like it takes a psych to figure that out. They're just making a big deal out of an everyday human mental phenomenon, giving lots of "significance" to something and playing it up almost like the parlor tricks of yore.

If they really wanted to help people, they would figure out why people get their attention stuck on certain things, and figure out something a person could do to help him free his attention. Not just descibe or verify a phenomenon that has been known for millenia.
 

longwatch

Founder's Club Member - Moderator
Joined
May 14, 2006
Messages
4,327
Location
Virginia, USA
I think if you carry enough you will see this effect in others. I have had the experience and others have too, of talking with someone for some period of time, say 5-10 minutes before they notice my openly carried handgun.
 

Citizen

Founder's Club Member
Joined
Nov 15, 2006
Messages
18,269
Location
Fairfax Co., VA
I think if you carry enough you will see this effect in others. I have had the experience and others have too, of talking with someone for some period of time, say 5-10 minutes before they notice my openly carried handgun.

Just drive for an hour and you will see this effect. People on cell phones. Busy talking on the phone while behind the wheel, they do not notice:

  • every other car on the Beltway and two lane highway is passing them (as they drive 5-10mph below the speed limit)
  • the light changed and it is time to go
  • the fella who needs to come over so he can make his turn or exit
  • stopped traffic ahead
  • their turn at a four-way stop
However, no matter how slow they were going, they always notice the yellow light in time to speed up themselves, leaving you stuck at the red. I am going to indulge in a personally rare use of the head-pounding smiley over this one, it has happened to me so often. :banghead:
 

Grapeshot

Legendary Warrior
Joined
May 21, 2006
Messages
35,317
Location
Valhalla
What does a cat need with underwear?

funny-pictures-cat-has-underwear.jpg


Sorry 'bout that - we take you back to the regularly scheduled programing.
 

MamaLiberty

Regular Member
Joined
Nov 8, 2006
Messages
894
Location
Newcastle, Wyoming, USA
Love your cat picture, grapeshot! :)

Citizen:
If they really wanted to help people, they would figure out why people get their attention stuck on certain things, and figure out something a person could do to help him free his attention.

I can give you some ideas about this. People focus their attention on what is important to them. For most people, that is a very short list indeed. They always and everywhere CHOOSE what those things are.

Those who are willing and ready to free their attention for other things can do so. All it takes is some rational thinking and a little practice. Let me give you some background on how I came to understand this.

I spent 14 years as a visiting nurse in some of the worst areas of Southern California. I was not allowed, either by "law" or company policy to have as much as a fingernail file for self defense. ALL I had was my situational awareness. I developed almost a 6th sense for danger and avoided many dangerous incidents by listening to my guts - as well as watching everything around me carefully.

Some of the things I learned and continue to do today.

1. Learn about people (human nature), culture, body language and become truly observant of them. Some of this just has to come with experience, but much of it can be learned from other people and even books. Time sorts out what works from what does not, and you must practice this in every day life - not just when you go into a dangerous area.

2. Trust your instincts, your 'gut.' Cultivate it. When you come in contact with, or see a person you instinctively distrust or dislike, give some serious thought as to WHY? What can you think of that gave you that impression or signal? Clothing, body language, eye contact, what? Then consciously look for those things in other people. Many, if not most, will not be that obvious, but may still demonstrate some of the same characteristics. Learn to spot them quickly. Sure you might be wrong sometimes, but better safe than sorry. Trust should take time to develop.

3. Visualization exercises. Imagine every possible situation you can think of. Visualize what other people are doing, how they look, dress, move. Base this on the people you normally encounter during your day and leisure time. If you travel, it is even more important to include as many other people, cultures and situations as possible. If it helps, take notes and/or pictures when you travel.

Visualize your plan to meet or avoid any kind of threat you can imagine. Think up many different plans, moves, possible outcomes for each scene. Be creative. Mental practice like this has proven over and over to be nearly or as valuable as actual physical practice of the same things. You just need to cultivate your imagination and have an open mind. If you concentrate on only a few things or possible scenes, you lose the benefit.

In addition, talk such scenes over with trusted friends and compare notes. They might well think of things you do not... then you can each practice what you've learned.

4. When you are out and about, scan your surroundings and CHOOSE what you will see and think about. You have the absolute choice whether or not to talk on the phone, read newspaper headlines, drive in a fog, or anything else. If you are in the habit of consciously making this choice, you will overcome any temptation to zone out. Be very aware of deliberate attempts to distract you or involve you in some activity - such as the fake traffic accident. If you experience that sort of thing, only your previously practiced mental discipline will help you avoid getting sucked in and losing awareness of everything else around you.

5. Look for potential threats always, and match them the best you can to the plans from the mental practice scenes mentioned previously. If nothing matches, then remember it for future thought/practice. Have a plan (does not need to be complex) in mind for each potential threat. If the situation turns dangerous before you have a plan, then you won't probably have time to think of anything and will simply have to react. It is always better to act from a positive plan than to simply do the first thing that crosses your mind.

I teach armed self defense... and I am also a clinical psychologist. :)

From "I am NOT a shrink" MamaLiberty
 

Grapeshot

Legendary Warrior
Joined
May 21, 2006
Messages
35,317
Location
Valhalla
Avoiding going in harms way is an acquired skill - it used to be a natural instinct - but has been so unused/practiced for many for far too long.
 
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