Veeringet

Veeringet is a theoretical construct used in some strands of cognitive science and linguistics to describe a gradual, continuous reorientation of an agent's stance or plan in response to changing context. The term combines veer with a diminutive suffix, signaling a process rather than a single decision.

Definition and scope: It denotes slow, cumulative adjustments along a multidimensional space of attitudes, goals, or control signals, rather than sharp, discrete switches. It can apply to human dialogue, multi-agent coordination, or autonomous systems.

Mechanisms: Veeringet emerges from ongoing state estimation and feedback from outcomes, social cues, or sensor data. It is driven by prediction errors and contextual relevance, producing smooth trajectories in decision space.

Measurement: Researchers have proposed metrics such as veer rate (unit change per time), veer magnitude (total angular change), and veer smoothness (variance of successive steps).

Applications and examples: In conversation, a speaker slowly shifts stance to align with interlocutor; in robotics, a robot's proposed path gradually adjusts toward a target corridor.

History: The concept is used in speculative or emerging literature rather than established theory; no consensus on definition or standard methods for measurement.

See also: stance-taking, perspective-taking, drift, adaptation, feedback control.