Target fixation

Short description: Attentional phenomenon

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 fighter pilots, race-car drivers, paragliders, and motorcyclists.[1] 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.[1] 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.[2]

## Contents

* 1 Cause and effect
* 2 Avoidance
* 3 See also
* 4 References
* 5 Further reading

## Cause and effect

Target fixation is caused by becoming focused on one thing that is usually distracting, dangerous, or rewarding.[3] Focus can be caused by "anticipated success", such as when trying to arrive at a destination in a certain amount of time while driving.[3]

While experiencing target fixation, a person can be very susceptible to dangerous situations due to lack of awareness of one's surroundings.[4]

## Avoidance

To avoid this phenomenon, one can be aware and in control of vision when in a panic mode or in a reward mode.[5] A person should think about what they see and be aware of their environment before making any decisions.[5]

## See also

* Tunnel vision

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Edmunds, Glen. "The Phenomenon of Target Fixation & How To Avoid It". Glen Edmunds Performance Driving School. Archived from the original on April 13, 2014. 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. Retrieved 12 April 2014.
2. ↑ Colgan, William B. (2010), Allied Strafing in World War II: A Cockpit View of Air to Ground Battle, McFarland, ISBN 978-0-7864-4887-6, https://books.google.com/books?id=GuuOyzdx1UAC&pg=PA44
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Do You Have "Eyes on the Prize" or "Target Fixation"?" (in en-US). http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/good-thinking/201309/do-you-have-eyes-the-prize-or-target-fixation.
4. ↑ "Safety Check | Target Fixation" (in en-US). https://uspa.org/p/Article/safety-check-target-fixation.
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "How to Avoid Target Fixation | Riding Skills Series" (in en). https://www.cycleworld.com/sport-rider/motorcycle-riding-skills-how-to-improve-vision-avoid-target-fixation/.

## Further reading

* Spiegel, Bernt (2010), The Upper Half of the Motorcycle: On the Unity of Rider and Machine, Center Conway, New Hampshire: Whitehorse Press, ISBN 978-1-884313-75-2
* Vanderbilt, Tom (2008), Traffic: why we drive the way we do (and what it says about us), New York, New York: Random House, ISBN 978-0-307-26478-7

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