Slips of the Mind and an Outline for a Theory of Action

Abstract

SLIPS OR UNINTENDED ACTIONS HAVE BOTH THEORETICAL AND APPLIED IMPORTANCE, BY PROVIDING INSIGHT INTO POSSIBLE UNDERLYING MECHANISMS OF BEHAVIOR AND BECAUSE OF THEIR REAL-WORLD CONSEQUENCES. Several collections of slips are examined and an outline for a theory of action is proposed, based on selection of appropriate schemas, their activation in memory, and triggering by appropriate conditions, with errors possible at each stage. A categorization of slips is presented based on this outline. Finally, the role of feedback and cybernetic theories of human performance are discussed. (Author)

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Nov 01, 1979
Accession Number
ADA081932

Entities

People

  • Donald A. Norman

Organizations

  • University of California, San Diego

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • California
  • Classification
  • Contracts
  • Feedback
  • Governments
  • Information Processing
  • Military Research
  • Motor Skills
  • Plastic Explosives
  • Security
  • Students
  • United States
  • United States Government
  • Universities

Fields of Study

  • Psychology

Readers

  • Materials Science and Engineering.
  • Systems Analysis and Design
  • Theoretical Analysis.