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The influence of task demands on joint action planning
Friebe, Kassandra Sebanz, Natalie Knoblich, Günther
Friebe, Kassandra
Sebanz, Natalie
Knoblich, Günther
Title / Series / Name
Acta Psychologica
Publication Volume
267
Publication Issue
Pages
Editors
Keywords
Joint action
Action planning
Action co-representation
Pre-cueing
Action planning
Action co-representation
Pre-cueing
Files
URI
https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14018/29072
Abstract
Joint actions require co-actors to coordinate their individual contributions to achieve joint goals. One proposal is that such coordination is supported by joint action plans. However, it remains unclear whether joint action planning is generally prioritized, or whether it is flexibly engaged depending on task demands. Here, we investigated the factors that influence co-actors' propensity to use the individual- and joint-level planning. Pairs of participants performed a joint task in which pre-cues provided information about individual contributions, the relation between contributions, or both. We manipulated the flexibility required to map actions onto outcomes, the order in which individual- and joint-level information was provided, and the relation between individual contributions. When mapping actions onto their outcomes required little flexibility, cues about the relation between individual contributions provided a performance benefit, indicating a tendency to prioritize joint action planning. In contrast, when action-outcome mappings were variable and required more flexibility, co-actors refrained from a general use of joint action plans and relied primarily on individual planning. Under these conditions, joint cues improved performance only when they allowed participants to infer their own required contribution from information about their partner's contribution. The order in which individual and joint-level information was specified and the relation between individual contributions did not influence participants propensity to engage in joint action planning. Together, these findings show that joint action planning is not generally prioritized but is flexibly recruited as a function of task demands, specifically the flexibility required to map actions onto outcomes.
Topic
Publisher
Place of Publication
Type
Journal article
Date
2026-07
Language
ISBN
Identifiers
10.1016/j.actpsy.2026.107057