C009

Use of Error Feedback

B01 Attention & Processing
Core LayerMML-2

Version v1.3.2

Definition

A baseline tendency and ability to update behavior in response to errors, failures, critique, and experimental outcomes; treating mistakes as signals and modifying strategy rather than repeating by inertia.

Poles

Each HES element is a spectrum, not a category: the Low and High poles describe how it presents at its two extremes, while the Reference marks the typical, everyday middle. The poles map variation across the range — neither end is inherently better or worse.

Low Pole

Error rigidity: feedback exerts weak influence on subsequent behavior; errors are dismissed, defended against, or not translated into behavioral change even when the signal is clear.

High Pole

Errors rapidly become useful information. The person identifies what failed, adjusts the rule or strategy, and reduces repetition. Constructive critique is handled without immediate defensiveness.

Reference

Clear mistakes lead to correction; ambiguous or threatening feedback can trigger delay, defensiveness, or avoidance.

Measure

Update efficiency—magnitude of improvement (error reduction / quality gain) after negative feedback over a fixed number of subsequent attempts.

Measuring Methods

• Feedback-based task series: error → signal → next attempt; measure how quickly error rates drop.
• Rule-discovery tasks where errors reveal the structure; quantify how rapidly behavior shifts once the signal is available.

Empirical Anchor

Error-related negativity / ERN (Gehring et al., 1993); feedback processing (Holroyd & Coles, 2002).

Notes

• Risks at MAX: over-updating to noisy feedback; “twitchy” strategy changes.
• Risks at MIN: repeated failures, stuckness, motivational erosion, conflict with critique.
• Differs from C010Cognitive Flexibility (error-driven updating vs. broader ability to reframe).

Citation

APA

Human Elements System. (2026). Use of Error Feedback (HES Passport C009, v1.3.2). hestable.com. https://hestable.com/passport/C009

BibTeX

@misc{hes_C009, author = {{Human Elements System}}, title = {{Use of Error Feedback}}, year = {2026}, note = {HES Passport C009, v1.3.2}, howpublished = {\url{https://hestable.com/passport/C009}} }