ABSTRACT

I provide an analysis of automaticity and control in terms of intention. This account is motivated by an attempt at rendering consistent three seemingly incompatible claims: (1) that intentional action involves control; (2) that intentional actions exhibit pervasive automaticity; and (3) that control rules out automaticity. My account renders the three claims consistent and illuminates how automaticity and control are to be mapped onto the structure of agency. This highlights the central role of attention in guiding action. I discuss how we might study attentional expertise in skilled behavior.