Can you only see what you want to see. Does selective blindess exist?

Question

Sorry about the typo

Answer 1

Absolutely it exists. for a fascinating read, get
Paradigms Lost, by John L Casti

It tells all about it.

We ignore stuff, just don't see it, when we don't expect to see it, or we see it differently.

as an example, I was flashed a playing card and I swore it was a jack of spades, as the flashes got longer and longer. Finally at 15 seconds, I saw it was a jack with black hearts.

Answer 2

Definately! Cogntively speaking, we only tend to acknowledge stuff that fits in with our current schema or view of the world (there are exceptions) and ignore the things that don't fit. In that way we can create what we want to see.

Mood effects what we see too. Ever noticed how when you have a bad day, all you can see is graffiti or people throwing rubbish or couples yelling in the street, but yet you have a good day and you notice the business man helping the old lady cross the road or the teenager giver his seat up for the pregnant lady on the train!

Answer 3

Hi Stef. I think that selective blindess does exist...metaphorically speaking. If we try to get someone to see the error of their ways, for instance, they may not want to see the 'bigger picture.' People tend to 'see' or choose to 'see' (or percieve) things from different perspectives.

Answer 4

If by seeing you mean our brain's interpretation of what our eyes survey, then deifnitely yes.

There is far too much information for us to focus on at one time coming in through the eyes.

We have therefore become very good at selecting which information we choose to process.

Its a known phenomenon that police officers who have been in a shoot out will get critical facts wrong when they come to describe minutae such as the colour of the assailant's hair; they are keenly focussed on the gun.

Answer 5

Of course. Why are so many people depressed. Someone may be beautiful and see ugliness in the mirror. Etc. We are conditioned in many respects to beleive things that are untrue etc.

Very deep question. If there is a problem, it's like a circle, generally you're in the middle of it. You can't see the outside for all that is disguising it from the outside. Hence blindness.

In a nutshell.

Answer 6

Yes. Unfortunately, it exists. I don't know if you left the 'n' out of blindness on purpose or is it a genuine mistake? I hate people who comment on spelling errors but with the nature of the question, I thought you might be doing it as an experiment.

Answer 7

well, i wouldnt call it that but the answer is yes. when we have a set idea or belief we can look for things to conform our beliefs. Reality can be greatly affected by what you want to see.

Answer 8

absolutely. i'm selectively blind to the piles of junk that clutter my house up. sometimes i can walk past things that need putting away for days...

Answer 9

some interpretations of quantum mechanics assert that we create, so to speak, our own reality

Answer 10

yes, because all you see happens in your brain, if your brain has a stronger signal than your senses...then what you sense is what you think