Target fixation
{{Short description|Attentional phenomenon}}
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Target fixation is an attentional phenomenon observed in humans in which an individual becomes so focused on an observed object (be it a target or hazard) that they inadvertently increase their risk of colliding with the object. It is associated with scenarios in which the operator is in control of a high-speed vehicle or other mode of transportation, such as motorists, fighter pilots, race-car drivers, paragliders, and motorcyclists.{{cite web|last=Edmunds|first=Glen|title=The Phenomenon of Target Fixation & How To Avoid It |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20140413140554/http://glenedmunds.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=123:the-phenomenon-of-target-fixation-a-how-to-avoid-it&catid=25:driving-articles&Itemid=132 |archivedate=April 13, 2014 |url=http://glenedmunds.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=123:the-phenomenon-of-target-fixation-a-how-to-avoid-it&catid=25:driving-articles&Itemid=132|work=Glen Edmunds Performance Driving School|accessdate=12 April 2014}} In such cases, the observer may fixate so intently on the target that they steer in the direction of their gaze, which is often the ultimate cause of a collision. The term target fixation was originally used in World War II fighter-bomber pilot training to describe pilots flying into targets during a strafing or bombing run.{{Citation |title= Allied Strafing in World War II: A Cockpit View of Air to Ground Battle |first= William B. |last= Colgan |publisher= McFarland |year = 2010 |isbn= 978-0-7864-4887-6 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=GuuOyzdx1UAC&pg=PA44 }}
In Season 10 Episode 6 of Frasier, Frasier Crane, when learning how to ride a bike, is unable to avoid running into a Sycamore tree. {{cite web| title=Fraternal Schwinns|url= https://youtube.com/watch?v=dOxiSsBTHbk }}
Cause and effect
Target fixation is caused by becoming focused on one thing that is usually distracting, dangerous, or rewarding.{{Cite web|url=http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/good-thinking/201309/do-you-have-eyes-the-prize-or-target-fixation|title=Do You Have "Eyes on the Prize" or "Target Fixation"?|website=Psychology Today|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-08}} Focus can be caused by "anticipated success", such as when trying to arrive at a destination in a certain amount of time while driving.
While experiencing target fixation, a person can be very susceptible to dangerous situations due to lack of awareness of one's surroundings.{{Cite web|url=https://uspa.org/p/Article/safety-check-target-fixation|title=Safety Check {{!}} Target Fixation|website=United States Parachute Association|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-08}}
Avoidance
To avoid this phenomenon, one can be aware and in control of vision when in a panic mode or in a reward mode.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cycleworld.com/sport-rider/motorcycle-riding-skills-how-to-improve-vision-avoid-target-fixation/|title=How to Avoid Target Fixation {{!}} Riding Skills Series|website=Cycle World|language=en|access-date=2020-04-08}} A person should think about what they see and be aware of their environment before making any decisions.
See also
References
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Further reading
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- {{Citation |title= The Upper Half of the Motorcycle: On the Unity of Rider and Machine |location=Center Conway, New Hampshire |first= Bernt |last= Spiegel |publisher= Whitehorse Press |year= 2010 |ISBN= 978-1-884313-75-2 |translator= Meredith Hassall }}
- {{Citation | title=Traffic: why we drive the way we do (and what it says about us) |first= Tom |last= Vanderbilt |location=New York, New York|publisher= Random House |year= 2008 |ISBN= 978-0-307-26478-7 }}
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