The Role of Different Thoughts in Tacit Coordination and Its Malleability by Interventions

Previous work has shown that successful tacit coordination depends on the availability of working memory resources. Much less is known about how thought processes, such as mind-wandering and self- vs. other-oriented attention, influence tacit coordination. In this experiment, we examined the effect of these thought processes on tacit coordination, and whether we could influence performance and thought processes through brief meditation interventions. While coordination and thought processes were not significantly affected by the interventions when compared to a control intervention, we found that thought processes, as measured by thought probes randomly interleaved between trials, significantly influenced coordination performance. Specifically, dyads performed significantly better when other-oriented than when self-oriented, showing greater convergence on shared decision rules over time. This study demonstrates the importance of orienting attention beyond self-generated responses in order to mutually adapt actions and mental states to achieve shared goals in iterated social coordination.