Expectedness

Expectedness refers to the degree to which an event, outcome, or behavior aligns with prior expectations or established norms. It quantifies the likelihood, based on available information, of something occurring or being perceived in a particular way. High expectedness suggests predictability and conformity, while low expectedness signals surprise, novelty, or deviance from what was anticipated. The concept is crucial in fields like psychology (in understanding surprise and cognitive processing), statistics (in analyzing the probability of events), and even everyday social interactions (in interpreting behavior based on social cues). Ultimately, expectedness is a subjective assessment that depends on individual beliefs, past experiences, and contextual factors; for example, an event may be highly expected in one setting but unexpected in another.

Expectedness meaning with examples

• The meteorologist's forecast showed a high degree of expectedness for rain, so the city was well-prepared. Citizens brought umbrellas and the emergency services prepared for high water alerts.
• Given the company's consistent financial performance, the analyst predicted a positive quarterly report, which met the expectedness that was in line with investors' expectations and ensured continued growth.
• The sudden change in the student’s performance during the exam produced low expectedness, because this behavior diverged significantly from their typical performance, causing their teacher to be concerned.
• In a suspense novel, the author deliberately manipulates expectedness; by building tension and introducing unexpected plot twists, the reader remains captivated throughout the narrative, enjoying the suspense.
• The surprising turn of events in the play shattered the audience's expectations, creating a high sense of drama. The unpredictability created a lot of discussion, the low expectedness made it the most dramatic scene.