Attention

Perception of Attention

  • Attention, within cognitive psychology, refers to the mental process of selecting relevant information while suppressing irrelevant information.
  • Attention can be divided into two types: Selective attention and Divided attention.

Selective Attention

  • Selective attention involves focusing on a particular object for a period of time while ignoring irrelevant information that is also occurring.
  • Models concerning selective attention: Broadbent’s Filter model, Triesman’s Attenuation Theory, and Deutsch & Deutsch’s Late Selection Model.
  • Broadbent’s Filter model proposes that attention works like a simple on/off switch, either letting through or blocking information.
  • Triesman’s Attenuation Theory argues that rather than a philtre, attention is more like an attenuator, adjusting the importance of various inputs.
  • Deutsch & Deutsch’s Late Selection Model suggests that all information is analysed before it gets ‘blocked’ or ‘passed through’.

Divided Attention

  • Divided attention deals with the individual’s capacity to attend to multiple tasks simultaneously.
  • Divided attention theories often look at the concept of automatic processing versus controlled processing.
  • Automatic processing refers to tasks that demand little conscious thought and do not deter from focusing on other tasks, while Controlled processing demands much more focus and attention.
  • Dual-task experiments, typically used to study divided attention, reveal that attention capacity is limited when tasks require the same mental and physical resources.

Factors Affecting Attention

  • Attention can be affected by factors such as arousal levels, task attractiveness, and task difficulty.
  • High arousal levels can potentially disrupt focused attention, while optimal arousal can facilitate it.
  • More attention is likely to be paid to tasks that are interesting (high task attractiveness) compared to mundane tasks.
  • Tasks that are too easy or too hard (low or high task difficulty) can result in poor attention. Optimal attention is usually found in moderately challenging tasks.