Stimulus-Stimulus (S-S) Conflict
« Back to Glossary IndexStimulus-stimulus (S-S) conflict — a more precise term than stimulus conflict—refers to a conflict where two+ different stimuli within the same category are presented at the same time. Confusion interpreting information from the relevant stimulus due to interference from the irrelevant stimulus creates a cognitive conflict — leading to slower reaction times or inaccurate responses. S-S conflict occurs at an earlier stage of interpreting the features or meanings of the stimuli themselves, rather than at a later stage of choosing a response, as in stimulus-response (S-R). Also see Stroop Test. Types of S-S conflict:
- Semantic conflict happens when trying to read a sentence with several similarly spelled words close together, causing confusion in understanding the sentence.
- Perceptual conflict happens when visual features of stimuli are similar, making it difficult to distinguish them — looking at a picture of a person’s facial expression that contradicts their body language. Conflicting signals cause confusion in interpreting their emotions.
- Cross-modal conflict happens with competing senses. Seeing a stop sign while a car horn gives an auditory cue to accelerate, creating momentary hesitancy in decision-making.
Factors influencing S-S conflict:
- Stimulus salience: More prominent stimuli are more likely to interfere with other stimuli.
- Task demands: Specific requirements of the task can influence how much conflict there is.
- Individual cognitive abilities: Having more attention control improves managing S-S conflict
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