Which Hotel Sounds Do Guests Notice Most?
Ordinary choices often hide invisible systems.
Unexpected sounds are noticed more than loud ones. The hidden mechanism is prediction failure.
Hotel guests rarely complain about every sound they hear.
Many adapt to elevators, traffic, or distant conversations. What captures attention are sounds that break expectations: a sudden knock, footsteps at unusual hours, or unexplained noises.
The hidden mechanism is prediction failure. The brain constantly predicts the environment and reacts strongly when those predictions fail.
People think silence creates comfort. Often, predictability does.
