Question

Explain the following concept in 25 to 30 words:

Attention

Answer 1

We continuously sense many stimuli from our surroundings through our sense organs. However, we do not become aware of all of them at one particular time. We focus and become aware of only a few stimuli from them. Therefore, attention is considered as the selective process. Many psychologists have defined attention in various ways.

According to Guildford, "attention is the process of focusing on one or few objects, persons or situations from among many from the field of awareness".

There are various aspects of attention. Some of them are as follows:

1. Span of attention: Span of attention can be described as the total number of stimuli that we can become clearly aware of in a single glance. Our span of attention is very limited. For a normal adult, the span of attention varies between 7 to 8 digits or alphabets. This is the reason why digits in postal pin code or vehicle numbers are never more than this limit of 7 to 8 digits. The factors like age, intelligence, practice, experience, habits, etc. may affect the span of attention.
2. Distraction of attention: After focusing on a specific stimulus, attention drifts towards another stimulus due to some external or internal disturbances. This is known as the distraction of attention. Many external factors such as intensity, size, movement etc. of stimuli, may distract attention. For example, your attention may get distracted if you have a stomach ache.
3. Division of attention: We observe people doing two things simultaneously, like reading newspaper while eating, or knitting while watching TV. In a true sense, individual cannot divide attention to two tasks simultaneously. In both these given examples, the individual is performing one task mechanically while paying attention fully to the other task. For example, eating or knitting is done mechanically while the person is paying attention fully to the other task like reading newspaper or watching TV. If a person needs to pay attention to both the tasks simultaneously then it results into increase in mistakes, decrease in efficiency, confusion, etc.
4. Fluctuation of Attention: Attention keeps oscillating like the pendulum of the clock. We cannot pay attention to a single stimulus for a long period of time. Our attention shifts towards other stimulus for a fraction of time and comes back to the original stimulus. This is known as fluctuation of attention. The factors like fatigue, low interest, attractiveness of other stimulus, etc. may lead to fluctuation of attention.