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Action slip

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An action slip is an error in the execution of an intended action, typically occurring during routine or automatic tasks, where the performed action deviates from the intended goal.[1] These errors, also referred to as "slips" in cognitive psychology, are often caused by lapses in attention, habitual behavior, or environmental factors, such as poorly designed interfaces or similar objects.[2] Unlike a Freudian slip, which is interpreted as revealing unconscious desires in psychoanalytic theory, action slips are explained through cognitive and ergonomic frameworks, focusing on attention, memory, and environmental design.[3]

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Overview

Action slips occur when an individual intends to perform one action but inadvertently executes another, often due to the automatic nature of routine tasks.[1] These errors are common in everyday life and do not necessarily indicate cognitive impairment.[3] They are studied in cognitive psychology, ergonomics, and human-computer interaction, with applications in improving safety, interface design, and error prevention.[4]

The term was popularized by psychologist Donald Norman in his 1988 book, The Design of Everyday Things, where he described action slips as errors in the execution of action sequences.[2] A specific type of action slip, known as slips and capture, occurs when a more frequent action overrides a less familiar one, often in high-stress situations like police use-of-force incidents.[4]

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Types

Summarize
Perspective

Action slips can be classified based on the cognitive processes involved, as outlined by Norman and Reason:[1][4]

  • Capture Errors: Occur when a familiar, habitual action is executed instead of the intended one, often because the context is similar. For example, a person might throw dirty clothes into a trash bin instead of a laundry basket if both are nearby and the actions are similar. A notable subset, known as slips and capture, is often cited in high-stress scenarios, such as police officers mistakenly using a firearm instead of a Taser.[5]
  • Loss of Activation Errors: Happen when the goal of an action is forgotten mid-task, leading to an incomplete or incorrect action. For instance, walking into a room and forgetting why one entered.[1]
  • Description Errors: Involve performing the correct action but on the wrong object due to similarity in appearance or context. An example is pouring coffee into a sugar jar instead of a coffee canister.[2]
  • Mode Errors: Occur when a device or system is in a different mode than the user expects, leading to unintended outcomes. For example, pressing a button on a keyboard expecting it to type a letter, but it triggers a shortcut because the system is in a different mode.[3]
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Causes

Action slips are typically caused by:

  • Automaticity: Routine tasks are performed with minimal conscious attention, making them prone to errors when distractions occur.[1]
  • Environmental Design: Poorly designed systems or objects that are too similar (e.g., identical containers for coffee and sugar) increase the likelihood of errors.[2]
  • Distraction or Fatigue: Reduced attention due to multitasking, stress, or tiredness can impair the monitoring of action sequences.[3]
  • Habit Interference: Strong habits can override intended actions, especially in familiar contexts.[4]

Examples

Common examples of action slips include:

  • Using the wrong key to unlock a door (e.g., trying to open a house door with a car key).[2]
  • Typing an incorrect but familiar word due to muscle memory (e.g., typing "the" instead of "they").[1]
  • Placing an item in the wrong location, such as putting a milk carton in a cupboard instead of the refrigerator.[2]
  • Forgetting the purpose of entering a room or starting a task.[3]

In high-stakes settings, action slips can have serious consequences, such as a pilot misreading an instrument due to a poorly designed cockpit interface or a nurse administering the wrong medication due to similar packaging.[4]

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Differences from Freudian slip

While both action slips and Freudian slips involve unintended actions or errors, they differ significantly in their theoretical explanations:

  • A Freudian slip is interpreted as a manifestation of repressed unconscious desires or thoughts, as described by Sigmund Freud in his 1901 work, The Psychopathology of Everyday Life.[6] For example, saying "I hate you" instead of "I love you" might reveal unconscious hostility.
  • An action slip is explained by cognitive processes, such as lapses in attention or environmental triggers, without invoking the unconscious.[1] For instance, pouring coffee into a sugar jar is typically attributed to similar containers or distraction, not a hidden desire.

The distinction is critical, as action slips focus on practical, observable causes and solutions, while Freudian slips are rooted in psychoanalytic interpretation.[3]

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Applications

The study of action slips has practical implications in several fields:

  • Ergonomics and Design: Understanding action slips informs the design of user-friendly interfaces, tools, and environments. For example, labeling containers distinctly or color-coding controls can reduce errors.[2]
  • Safety Engineering: In industries like aviation, healthcare, and manufacturing, analyzing action slips helps prevent accidents caused by human error.[4]
  • Human-Computer Interaction: Designing intuitive software interfaces reduces mode errors and improves user experience.[3]
  • Cognitive Training: Techniques like mindfulness can help individuals increase attention during routine tasks, reducing slips.[3]
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Prevention

To minimize action slips, strategies include:

  • Environmental Redesign: Use distinct containers, clear labels, or physical barriers to differentiate objects (e.g., color-coded jars for coffee and sugar).[2]
  • Attention Management: Practice mindfulness or verbalize actions to disrupt automaticity (e.g., saying "I'm putting the clothes in the laundry basket").[3]
  • Habit Modification: Reorganize routines or environments to break error-prone patterns.[4]
  • Feedback Systems: Design systems that provide immediate feedback when an error occurs, such as alerts in software or tactile differences in tools.[2]
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See also

References

Further reading

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