ABSTRACT
Imagine that you and a colleague have just arrived at a work-related socialgathering. As you are scanning the room for food and drink and friendly faces,your colleague swears suddenly in alarm and nudges your elbow. Your eyes widen for a fraction of a second in a fleeting and automatic expression of fear, and zoom in on your boss’s face, which is furious and looking your way. You perceive the arrangement of her hair, the flush of her face, even a speck of food on her tooth with vivid clarity, at the same time as you are blind to the room’s décor, or the clothing or behavior of other people. Your attention immediately focuses on your boss, and your reasoning processes become fully engaged in ascertaining whether you are the source of that anger.
