The process through which certain stimuli are selected from a group of others is generally referred to as attention

1. Characteristics of
Attention
Dr Rajesh Verma
Assistant Professor in Psychology
Govt. College Adampur, Hisar (Haryana)

2. Meaning
The efforts required to assemble the
cognitive faculties in response of sensory or
psychological
inputs.
In simple terms
attention is voluntary or involuntary attending
to the external or internal stimuli.

3. Definition
The process through which certain stimuli are
selected from a group of others is generally referred to as
attention (NCERT, XI).
A state in which cognitive resources are focused on
certain aspects of the environment rather than on others
and the central nervous system is in a state of readiness to
respond to stimuli (APA).
In essence, attention is the
state of awareness centered
towards the specific stimuli.

4. Characteristics of Attention
Attention is the component of cognition or some
psychologists considers it pre-cognition process/state.
1. Attention is a Selective process.
2. Perception is the function of attention.
3. Attention can be goal-directed or stimulus-driven
(Yantis, 1993).
4. Concentration of
mental efforts on sensory or
mental events (Solso, 2006)
is the prerequisite for
attention.

5. 5. Attention is a dynamic with & mobile mental
process.
6. It works on all-or-none principle i.e. either we
attend or remain inattentive to a stimuli.
7. Attention can shift its focus from one stimulus
to other depending upon the characteristics of
stimuli.
8. Attention also
depends upon the
mental state and other
psychological variables
of an individual.

6. 9. Attention is subjective and abstract
phenomenon with objective outcomes.
10. The attention process is closely related to the
phenomenon of
awareness.
11. Attention is
attractive as well as
repulsive based on the
stimulus.
12. Interest is the one
of the major decisive
factors of attention.

7. 13. Its span is limited to the fulfillment of goals.
14. It has shifting nature that needs motor
adjustment.
15. Attention is purposive and guided by psycho-
biological needs.
16. Attention has three major components i.e.
cognitive, conative and affective.

8. References:
1. NCERT, XI Psychology Text book.
2. Solso, R. L. (2006). Cognitive Psychology. New
Delhi: Pearson India.

9. Next Discussion
Types of Attention

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