"So this is the Aztec Tomb trick?" "Illusion, Michael. A trick is something a whore does for money.
.... Or candy."
Piotr, I'm not sure if you still read this, but today in my Perception class I was told about an experiment that reminded me of your skepticism about the applicability of psychological studies to 'real life,' especially in the context of political theory. My recollection of your argument at the time was something like "Oh, those studies are just done in a lab; they don't tell us anything about the way people actually act in the world."
Check out the description of Experiment 1 in this paper. In it, the experimenters approach a pedestrian and ask for directions. In the middle of their conversation, two 'workers' carrying a door walk between the experimenter and the pedestrian. While this happens, the experimenter and one of the workers switch places, and continue the conversation. Only have the subject notice the change.
The point I'm trying to make is (1) that's hilarious, and (2) psychology is working on explanations for just this sort of phenomena, and makes progress (albeit slowly).
Piotr, I'm not sure if you still read this, but today in my Perception class I was told about an experiment that reminded me of your skepticism about the applicability of psychological studies to 'real life,' especially in the context of political theory. My recollection of your argument at the time was something like "Oh, those studies are just done in a lab; they don't tell us anything about the way people actually act in the world."
Check out the description of Experiment 1 in this paper. In it, the experimenters approach a pedestrian and ask for directions. In the middle of their conversation, two 'workers' carrying a door walk between the experimenter and the pedestrian. While this happens, the experimenter and one of the workers switch places, and continue the conversation. Only have the subject notice the change.
The point I'm trying to make is (1) that's hilarious, and (2) psychology is working on explanations for just this sort of phenomena, and makes progress (albeit slowly).