2.2 Perception (c8) Flashcards
define attention
the process of focusing on specific stimuli or aspects of the sensory environment whilst ignoring and therefore excluding others
what happens when we pay attention to a stimulus
When we pay attention to a stimulus
- we become consciously aware of it.
- we can choose to focus our awareness on important things whilst ignoring a great deal of competing and less important stimuli
attention is like…
a mental spotlight that can be moved around and focused on specific sensory inputs.
sustained attention involves…
maintenance of attention on a specific stimulus or task for a continuous period of time without being distracted.
an example of sustained attention:
listening to a teacher give an explanation, studying for a test, holding a serious conversation with a friend, driving a car, watching a movie and playing a video game typically involve sustained attention for a period of time.
The terms sustained attention and — are sometimes used interchangeably.
vigilance
divided attention refers…
to the ability to distribute our attention so that two or more activities may be performed simultaneously.
an example of divided attention:
eating dinner while watching the news, talking on the phone while getting dressed, and reading an email while listening to music and tapping to the beat.
our ability to divide our attention and “multitask” depends on
how much conscious effort is required for the various tasks in which we are engaged.
selective attention involves…
choosing and attending to a specific stimulus whilst at the same time excluding other stimuli.
Essentially, you ‘select’ what you want to pay attention to and ignore less important or irrelevant stimuli.
example of selective attention
For example, you may use selective attention when studying in a noisy room to filter out distracting sounds, or you may selectively attend to a book you are reading on the bus to school whilst ignoring the discomfort of the seat and the chatter of other passengers.
When used successfully, selective attention…
enables you maintain the required level of performance in the presence of distracting stimuli.
define cocktail party phenomenon
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factors that influence selective attention
personal importance, physiological state, motives, past experience
If a stimulus is ofpersonal importance…
If a stimulus is ofpersonal importance - we are more likely to notice and attend to it (cocktail party phenomenon)
how does someone’s physiological state affect attention?
e.g., a hungry person is more likely to notice and pay attention to a fast-food outlet and a thirsty person’s attention may be directed towards locating places where water is available.
how do our motives affect attention
e.g., the student who is highly motivated to learn a concept being explained by their teacher is more likely to pay much more attention in class than the students lacking motivation.
how does past experience affect attention
we are more likely to notice and attend to things that are of personal interest or have meaning to us.
E.g. An entomologist (person who studies insects) and a botanist (person who studies plants) will probably attend to different features of the environment as they walk through a forest.
our attention is also attracted by stimuli that are new or unusual in some way. give an example
if a student wore an iridescent green jacket to a school that had a strict uniform policy, it would readily command attention from teachers and students alike.
changes in a stimulus that can attract our attention include:
movement, contrast, intensity, size, duration or repetition
explain how movement can attract our attention
A stimulus which moves is more likely to capture our attention than a stationary one. For example, a flickering light will attract our attention more readily than a non-flickering light, as will a moving vehicle compared with a stationary one.
explain how contrast can attract our attention
A stimulus which is noticeably different from its background or surroundings will attract attention more readily than one which is similar to the others. For example, a black ink stain on a white shirt is more likely to stand out and attract attention than a vanilla ice cream stain.
explain how intensity can attract our attention
A stimulus that is more intense than the others is more likely to capture our attention than one that is less intense. For example, a bright colour, loud noise, sharp pain or strong smell will attract our attention more readily than those of much lower intensity.
size: A much bigger or a smaller stimulus draws attention more readily than one of an ‘average’ or ‘normal’(due to salience).
duration or repetition: A brief or momentary stimulus is less likely to capture our attention as easily as one that persists or is repeated. However, a constant stimulus or too much repetition can lead us to become accustomed to it through a process calledhabituation. We will then pay less and less attention to it and eventually ignore it.
can we process some info outside conscious awareness? why?
Yes, because even when your attention is focused on one thing, you are still capable of reacting to other stimuli.
define sensation
the process by which our sense organs and receptors detect and respond to sensory information that stimulates them.
what is visual sensation?
Detection or awareness of the presence of light energy produced by stimulation of the photo receptors on the retina.
It is a physiological process.
It is the same for everyone without damage
define perception
refers to the process by which we give meaning to sensory information.
define visual perception
Interpretation of visual sensations by the brain into meaningful info.
This is influenced by physiological and psychological factors, therefore is a unique experience for everyone
