If only everything in life was so simple. New research from the University of Birmingham suggests the best strategy may actually be to wait for the other guy to make his move.
In a series of “laboratory gunfights” - with pistols replaced by electronic pressure pads - researchers found that participants who reacted to their opponent’s movement were on average 21 milliseconds faster to the draw.
Professor Andrew Welchman, who lead the research, puts this down to the “quick and dirty” nature of instinctive responses.
Reacting to your opponent’s movement turns out to be significantly faster than the conscious decision-making process involved in choosing to draw your gun.
…
Bohr noticed that the man who drew first invariably got shot, and speculated that the intentional act of drawing and shooting was slower to execute than the action in response.
Here was a hypothesis that could be tested, and with the aid of cap guns hastily purchased in a Copenhagen toyshop, duly proved it.
”BBC News - Today - The gunfighter’s dilemma
おおっこれは！例の西部劇のガンファイトの謎が解けたよ。つまり、ヒーローが悪者に「先に抜かしてやるよ」と促すのだが、最後にはヒーローの早撃ちが勝つという、いわゆる”quick and dirty” と呼ばれるアレだ。
この元記事にあるビデオを見れば一目瞭然なのだが、研究室で「ガンファイト」を行う装置を作って実験したところ、自分で主体的に決定を下してアクションを行う被験者より、ただ相手の反応をみて反応する被験者のほうが平均で21msecほど反応が早かったそうなのだ。へえー。
そして、この記事が面白いのはそれだけじゃない。なんとあのBohrが、オモチャで早撃ち決闘を同僚達とやっていて、ただ反応して銃を抜くほうが自分の判断で銃を抜くより速いということを実際に見せていたそうなのだ。面白い！
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