Mind Your Thoughts: Individual Differences in Mind Wandering
Abstract
Mind wandering consumes almost half of our day, while influencing behaviors and activities experienced throughout individuals’ lives (Killingsworth & Gilbert, 2010). The impact of mind wandering on task performance may vary but typically, task performance is impaired when people mind wander (Randall, Oswald, & Beier, 2014). The current study examined predictors of mind wandering in both the laboratory and the real world. New to this study we examined mind wandering across two dimensions: emotional valence and intentionality. To measure mind wandering in the lab, participants completed a sustained attention task with thought probes. Mind wandering in the real world was measured via responses to a signal on an iPod Touch that participants kept with them for one week. Results indicated that personality factors of openness to experience and conscientiousness predicted negatively valenced, intentional Task-Unrelated Thoughts (TUTs) mind wandering in the lab. Further, mindfulness, neuroticism, and self-reported trait tendency to mind wandering predicted TUT rate, however, these predictors varied based on intentionality of the mind wandering. Positively valenced TUTs were not predicted by any personality or other trait measure. Predictors of mind wandering in the real world differed from predictors of mind wandering in the lab. Mind wandering in the real world was predicted by situational factors including boredom, concentration, and happiness. The predictors of mind wandering appear to vary by setting and may be contingent upon certain individual difference variables. Understanding the predictors of mind wandering is critical to identifying when task performance may be impaired.
Faculty Sponsors
Dr. Jonathan Banks
Project Type
Event
Location
Alvin Shermany Library
Start Date
4-5-2019 1:00 PM
End Date
4-5-2019 5:00 PM
Mind Your Thoughts: Individual Differences in Mind Wandering
Alvin Shermany Library
Mind wandering consumes almost half of our day, while influencing behaviors and activities experienced throughout individuals’ lives (Killingsworth & Gilbert, 2010). The impact of mind wandering on task performance may vary but typically, task performance is impaired when people mind wander (Randall, Oswald, & Beier, 2014). The current study examined predictors of mind wandering in both the laboratory and the real world. New to this study we examined mind wandering across two dimensions: emotional valence and intentionality. To measure mind wandering in the lab, participants completed a sustained attention task with thought probes. Mind wandering in the real world was measured via responses to a signal on an iPod Touch that participants kept with them for one week. Results indicated that personality factors of openness to experience and conscientiousness predicted negatively valenced, intentional Task-Unrelated Thoughts (TUTs) mind wandering in the lab. Further, mindfulness, neuroticism, and self-reported trait tendency to mind wandering predicted TUT rate, however, these predictors varied based on intentionality of the mind wandering. Positively valenced TUTs were not predicted by any personality or other trait measure. Predictors of mind wandering in the real world differed from predictors of mind wandering in the lab. Mind wandering in the real world was predicted by situational factors including boredom, concentration, and happiness. The predictors of mind wandering appear to vary by setting and may be contingent upon certain individual difference variables. Understanding the predictors of mind wandering is critical to identifying when task performance may be impaired.
