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Question
Define attention. Explain its properties.
Solution
Attention refers to the process through which certain stimuli are selected from a group of others. It requires an allocation of effort. The objects that are at the centre are the focus of attention while objects that are away from the centre are at the fringe.
Attention has the following properties:
(i) Alertness: It refers to the individual’s readiness to deal with the stimulus that they experience. For instance, the situations where people are alert while crossing the road in order to avoid mishaps.
(ii) Concentration: It refers to the focus of awareness on specific objects while excluding others in that period of time. For instance, the executives in a meeting concentrate on their work while ignoring other activities outside.
(iii) Search: It takes place when an observer looks for a specific subset of objects among a set of objects. For example, the historians search for sites to gain information about events within a particular time period.
(iv) Selection: It refers to the focus of conscious awareness on a particular stimulus, upon which the attention is gained.
