is the ability to direct our focus on an object or a situation. The function of attention is to filter the vast number of stimuli, action or information, and choose which of them will enter our consciousness. This is a protective function, preventing us from getting overloaded by information, choosing only priority stimuli that are most relevant to us at any given moment. The capability to direct attention is influenced by will, motivation and emotions.
We can divide attention into these categories:
- active, or voluntary – goal-oriented, will-directed attention, for example when we are looking for something on the table, focusing on some activity (e.g. studying) or solving a task, etc.
passive, or involuntary – something captures our attention, for example a clinking of the keys, an unexpected event, a striking object or an action, impending danger, physical stimuli – pain, hunger, etc.
- selective – attention directed to one area, one element or action; perception of irrelevant stimuli is inhibited
diffuse – scattered attention – the ability to stay focused on multiple things at once
Some properties of attention are:
- endurance, or the ability to focus on one stimulus for a long time
- concentration, or the ability to stay focused on one thing while ignoring everything else
- range or capacity - how many stimuli we are able to focus on at once
- selectivity, or the ability to direct our attention to a certain “cutout” of reality
- distraction, or the threshold of sensitivity towards potential distractive stimuli
- fluctuation in the intensity of attention, which serves to protect us from exhaustion
- distribution or switching attention between individual stimuli currently occupying our attention
