Turn Taking

Social conditioning for turn-taking actually involves a number of highly precise definitions of when a turn should be taken, or when permissions must be requested before attempting to take over a task.

An observation while in public is the way people try to give way to others when at the subway.
In a favorable situation, two approaching people will both step to the same side and successfully clear the way for one another. In a less favorable situation, both will step in opposite directions and effectively obstruct one another's way.

This appears to create quite a bit of stress, since both people are usually in some sort of hurry to get to the other train. After realizing that there is an obstruction, both people will attempt to dodge again. Interestingly enough, the time delay between dodges is often precise to the millisecond. Both people will actually dodge at precisely the same time, often in the opposite direction they initially dodged. Understandably, this causes yet another blockage and increases stress levels further. In fact, a whole series of dodges may occur in rapid (and synchronized) succession until the blockage is resolved.

Perhaps this is an indication of how reflexes and social conditioning in turn taking work together to cause a fairly predictable series of responses. In this case, though, it can be presumed that both people will feel that the other person is somehow inconsiderate or inept in being unable to clear the way for the other...