Behavioural Economics Primer: Inattentional blindness

Crawford Hollingworth

This article gives an overview of the behavioural economics concept of inattentional blindness: when people focus on a particular task that demands their attention, they often fail to notice a fully visible, but unexpected object or event that occurs in full view.

Behavioural Economics Primer: Inattentional blindness

Crawford Hollingworth The Behavioural Architects

Behavioural economics

This article is part of Warc's Behavioural Economics Primer.

Take a look at this 3-photo Colgate dental floss ad below. Please pay close attention to each scene:

Now you've looked did you notice anything unusual?

  • In the first photograph, did you see that the woman has too many fingers on her left hand?
  • In the second photograph, did you spot the phantom arm resting on the man's shoulder?
  • In the third photograph, did you notice that the man has only one ear?

The Colgate campaign,...

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