mind wandering

a condition in which thoughts do not remain focused on the task at hand but range widely and spontaneously across other topics. It tends to occur during tasks that do not require sustained attention. Mind wandering cannot be scientifically quantified but has been studied using thought sampling and questionnaires. Research questions include how much mind wandering is a stable personality trait, how much it is linked to mood and situation, and how it relates to processing capacity and working memory. The contents of mind wandering are often referred to as task-unrelated thoughts (TUTs), task-unrelated images and thoughts (TUITs), or stimulus-independent and task-unrelated thoughts (SITUTs). See also absent-mindedness; intrusive thoughts.

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Psychology term of the day

March 12th 2025

genetic programming theory

a group of theories that describe aging as resulting from genetic encoding within an individual’s DNA whereby one is born with a predetermined tendency toward a developmental timetable. Also called planned obsolescence theory. Compare variable rate theory.