You are in an arena watching a hockey game. In the third period you ask the person sitting next to you if they know how much time is left. They laugh at you before pointing at a giant clock that had been in front of you the whole game. What can help explain the fact that you missed something that seems so obvious?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Inattentional blindness is a psychological phenomenon where an individual fails to perceive an unexpected stimulus that is in plain sight, simply because their attention was focused on another task, event, or aspect of their environment. This explains why you missed seeing the giant clock despite it being clearly visible.

You Are in an Arena Watching a Hockey Game