The Danger of Target Fixation

What is Target Fixation

In our everyday lives, we pursue one dream or the other. It is of paramount importance to be focus to achieve our dreams. Sometimes, we can be so focused on our dreams that other details become irrelevant, this might be or might not b deadly, hence we must know if we have eyes on our prize or if we are having a case of target fixation. One is deadly and one is not.

Target fixation is an attentional phenomenon observed in humans in which an individual becomes so focused on an observed object or a target. Depending on the article of focus, we can adopt a neurological approach or a psychological approach to understand this phenomenon. The term was first used during world war II.

Neuropsychological Approach to Target Fixation

Do you watch car racing? Target fixation according to Bernt is a phenomenon mostly associated in situations where someone is in charge of a high speed mobile, as observed with car racers or in motorcyclists. In such instances, the driver may focus so intently on the of object (the car or bike) ahead that they steer in the direction of the object which results in most collisions that occur during car races.

This occurs due to the possession of the mind of one out of a dozen other train of thoughts. It can also be seen to occur due to the allocation of a larger proportion of the brain, to a detail(target or object) and lesser to other details. This is the neurological approach.

According to Cummings (2013) on a more psychological approach, target fixation is different from the admonition to “keep your eyes on the prize”, that is, to not allow minor distractions or setbacks keep you from pursuing your true goal.

Target fixation can be deadly because you focus so intently on the goal of ones desire or target that we ignore dangers associated with it. I once watched a grackle chase an osprey that had just caught a fish. Annoyed by the harassment, the osprey dropped the fish. The grackle immediately chased after the fish which is its coveted prize, but by these actions the grackle puts itself in a position of danger as the osprey can decide to have a change of meal.

Although target fixation has dangers, it is not necessarily negative, for instance, for a biker, when in front of danger, you can picture where you want to go and be and your body will do the rest, almost like a prophecy come true. If you see a pothole or a rock on the road and you stare at it, you are going to hit it. But if you see the harmful obstacle and then re-focus your eyes to a harmless sport nearby, you will steer there and avoid will be likely to avoid the danger.