hidden variable

English

Noun

hidden variable (plural hidden variables)

1. (physics) Any parameter that would supplement quantum mechanics so as to make it like classical mechanics; local hidden variables have been proved to be inconsistent with quantum mechanics.
2. (figurative, loosely) An implicitly assumed influence.
   • 2023 May 22, Peter Gärdenfors, Marlize Lombard, “The Evolution of Human Causal Cognition”, in Oxford Handbook of Cognitive Archaeology, Oxford University Press, →DOI, →ISBN, pages 277–298:

     We do not perceive any physical cause of another’s actions but use our understanding of their inner state as a hidden causal variable for their behaviors. This involves a detachment of perceptual similarity from causal similarities so that the mental factors of ToM form a class of hidden variables that we add to our perception to understand causal relations in a social context.