Chapter 4, Problem 4.1-1TY

Summary Introduction

Introduction

Selective attention is a cognitive procedure wherein an individual attends to a sensory input or more while ignoring or avoiding the others, whereas divided attention is one of the higher-level skills wherein one can operate on two or more tasks at a time with all the tasks requiring attention.

Explanation of Solution

Suggested response

Attempting to focus on a science homework while ignoring the conversation of family members demonstrates selective attention, while conversation in students' library being interfered with one's game on his/her cell phone can exemplify distraction. Distraction refers to diverting one's attention from some desired focal area, thereby, diminishing or locking the reception of the desirable material.

Attentional capture occurs when some property of a stimulus attracts the observer's attention which could be accompanied by scanning, which is a process of looking around carefully for detecting some features. Divided attention may include talking to a friend on phone while playing a video game. The attention of an individual, secretly listening to someone else's conversation might get distracted due to the noise of an overspeeding car. Attempting to identify people's face in a room by looking from one face to another represents the process of scanning.