Your friend Sophie said that she would call you at 8:00 p.m. When the phone rings at 8:00 p.m., you answer and say "Oh, hi, Sophie." Then you realize that the caller is a different friend with a similar voice, but somewhat higher pitched. Your initial error can be explained by

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Your initial error can be explained by top-down processing, which involves using your expectations and prior knowledge (in this case, expecting a call from Sophie at 8:00 p.m.) to interpret sensory information. This led you to mistakenly identify the caller as Sophie based on the timing and the similarity in voice.

Your Friend Sophie Said That She Would Call You at 8:00