What is Attention?

What is Attention?

Attention is the term used or given to the perceptual processes that select certain inputs for inclusion in our conscious experience, or awareness at any given time. It is the process involving the act of listening, and concentrating on a topic, object or event for the attainment of desired ends.

“Attention is the concentration of consciousness upon one object other than upon another”—

----Dumville.

“Attention is the process of getting an object or thought clearly before the mind”

—Ross.

Thus attention is a process which is carried out through cognitive abilities and helped by emotional and behavioural factors to select something out of the various stimuli present in one’s environment and bring it in the centre of one’s consciousness in order to perceive it clearly for deriving the desired end.

Nature of Attention:

•       Attention is a mental process and not a mental power.
•       There can be no attention in the absence of interest.
•       The thought of conscious life is impossible in the absence of attention.
•       Attention creates readiness for doing a work.
•       Attention is a selective process.
•       Attention is a past of consciousness, it does not mean consciousness.
•       Attention is always changing.
•       Attention is always an active centre of our experience.
•       It is selective.
•       Attention is continuous.
•       Attention increases the clarity of the object.
•       It is indivisible.
•       The limitation of attention somewhat depends upon relation between the things.

Determinants of Attention

      Intensity A strong or prominent object is likely to attract our attention quickly and easily than a weak stimulus. For example, a scream or loud cry, full beam of light, heavy rain, thundering, lightening or flashing, all are intense stimuli, so they catch our attention easily.

      Extensity Like intensive, extensive objects will also capture our attention. Bigger stimulus is more striking than the little ones. Huge billboards, full-page advertisement in a newspaper is more likely to be noticed than a small one.

      Colour Colorful stimuli are more attractive than the simple one. Different beautiful colours are used in advertisements just to grasp our attention.

      Movement Moving objects are more attractive than the static one. Movement is the fundamental objective condition of attention.

      Duration If the duration of stimulation is longer, then it will catch our attention. short termed or stimuli having minimum duration will not attract us.

      contrast  It is the basic factor which is used by those companies who want to attract the consumers. If contrast is produced in a nice manner, it definitely will catch the attention. All advertising agencies depend on this technique. Contrast can be of colour, size, shape or movement also.

      change It is also a form of contrast. A continuous or steady stimulus or object may loose our attention, but a sudden change can catch it again. When a ma moving object stop static object starts moving, they definitely catch our attention. Alarm, call bell, knocking, or sudden change in light at once catches our attention.

      Novelty A novel or unusual object attracts more easily than a familiar one. A familiar object loses its strength of attraction. Any stimulus, to which we become habitual, remains no more attractive to us. Unique dresses, styles, colours and fashion grasp our attention. Striking quality of the objects definitely capture our attention.

      Location We can see its application in advertisements. Advertising agencies select important location for the bill boards. Same strategy is adopted while advertising in newspapers. Ads between news bulletins or just before become more attention catching.

      Repetition Repeated object or incident catches our attention. The more it stimulates us the more it will become attractive for us. The advertising agencies give their message repeatedly on T.V. or radio so they catch our attention. But there is a limit for repetition. Sometimes, we become fed up with repetition also.

      Freshness When individual is fresh, then he is more attentive rather than tired Or sleepy. If subject is not fresh, strongly stimulating objects fail to catch his attention.

      Interest Interest means a tendency to pay attention to something. McDougall says, “To have an interest in any object means to be ready to pay attention”. Interest is latent attention. Interest is regarded as an inner condition of the mind, which favours attention. paying attention is taking interest and vice versa.

      Motive It is the force by which organism satisfies his needs. Motives make the individual to accomplish this requirement. They can be of many types. So motive is an important cause of attention. Hunger, thirst or power motive determines our attention.

      Curiosity Natural desire to know about the environment or different objects is called curiosity. Curiosity motivates the individual to do something. Curiosity is seen in all types of humans rather its intensity may differ.

      Mental Readiness Mental and physical state in which individual is fully prepared to do something is called readiness. It acts like expectation that prepares the individual to do some act.

      Mental and Physical Health If the individual is healthy, mentally and  physically, he will be more able to pay attention than sick or ill. Emotion It becomes difficult for the individual to concentrate in emotional state. Emotionally calm person can pay good attention.

      Attitude Attitude is somewhat permanent style of the individual to think or act. Although attitudes are learned, but once established, they become very difficult to change. Our positive or negative attitudes determine our attention.
So attention depends upon so many factors.

Techniques to Make Attentive the Students:

A child not paying attention in class is one of the most challenging things that a teacher endures. When students don’t pay attention in class, they miss out on the vital information that will help them succeed not only in elementary, middle or high school, but in college and the workforce as well. Fortunately, there are numerous tricks a teacher can employ that will help students pay attention in class.

·         Make participation a part of the grade. One way to encourage students to pay attention in class is to make participation a part of their overall grade. This means that those who aren’t paying attention will likely have a lower overall grade when the quarter or semester ends.

·         Reward participation. Teachers should reward those who participate in class and pay attention to lessons. Some may argue that it’s putting too many incentives on a student’s classroom behavior, but sometimes it can be just the nudge in the right direction that a student needs.

·         Exercise. Before each class period, take a few minutes and have students stand and do light exercise movements such as knee bends, stretching, or jumping jacks. Spiking student’s heart rate increases blood flow to the brain which helps students concentrate on lesson plans and focus on assignments.

·         Remove distractions. Make sure televisions and computer monitors are turned off when they’re not in use, close window blinds if there is activity outside, and make sure students turn off cellphones and tablet computers. It’s also a good idea to remove students who are causing a disruption or distraction in the class.

·         Innovative curriculum. Arguably the best way for a teacher to address a lack of attention or participation is to take a look at things that they’re doing. Design classroom activities that can be done on computers, smart phones or tablets which will provide students with a more interactive method of learning.

·         Make lessons relevant to life. Students like learning about things that they can relate to. So every subject that a teacher hits on should try to tie in with a student’s everyday life. By making subject matters familiar, students will be more likely respond to them.

·         Ask Students to Read Aloud. When studying material from a textbook, ask individual students to read portions of the chapter aloud to the class. If necessary, divide the class into smaller groups and make sure each group member has a selection to read aloud.