Is there a Competition between Functional and Situational Affordances during Action Initiation with Everyday Tools?

Kévin Roche,Hanna Chainay

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01073

Kévin Roche, Hanna Chainay

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01073

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Abstract

Most studies of human-tool interactions focus on the typical use of a tool (e.g., cutting in the case of a knife). However, little is known about situations requiring atypical tool use (e.g., using a knife to tighten a screw). The present study focused on a selection of atypical uses of everyday tools which might be in conflict with their typical use. Our objective was to study how tool function influences the selection of the relevant action. In Experiment 1, which involved visuomotor priming, two everyday tools (a knife and a screwdriver) and two neutral tools (two bars, with no strong functional affordance) were used as primes and targets. Participants had to use the target with the appropriate box (indicated by the color) that allowed to make an action. Longer initiation times were observed when the prime was an everyday tool, irrespective of the nature of the target. We therefore observed a conflict between functional and situational affordances. To investigate whether the priming effect is caused by the task-irrelevance of the prime, we asked the participants in Experiment 2 to perform an action associated with the prime. The results showed longer initiation times only when the prime and target were everyday tools, irrespective of their precise nature. This suggests that activation of the typical use of a tool might not be fully automatic but flexible depending on the situation.

Highlights

Throughout our lives, we interact with many tools in the same way to achieve the same goals
This view of affordances was modified by authors who pointed out that they are relations between one’s abilities and features of the environmental situation (Tucker and Ellis, 2001; Chemero, 2003) and that they depend on previous experience and the current goal (Rosenbaum et al, 1990)
The purpose of the present study is to investigate whether functional affordances are automatically activated along with situational affordances when an atypical use of the tool is required

Summary

Introduction

Throughout our lives, we interact with many tools in the same way to achieve the same goals (e.g., cutting food with a knife). According to Gibson’s (1979) theory, it is the affordances, described as opportunities for action that are directly offered by the intrinsic perceptual properties of objects, that allow us to use tools. Since these properties are invariant, the affordances do not change as a function of our needs and goals. They are directly perceived without any need to call on previous experiences with the tool and knowledge of its function This view of affordances was modified by authors who pointed out that they are relations between one’s abilities and features of the environmental situation (Tucker and Ellis, 2001; Chemero, 2003) and that they depend on previous experience and the current goal (Rosenbaum et al, 1990). The perception of affordances depends on one’s needs

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