Attention is the concentration of awareness on some phenomenon to the
exclusion of other stimuli. It is a process of selectively concentrating on a
discrete aspect of information, whether considered subjective or objective.
Ross (1951) has defined it as “the process of getting an object or thought clearly before the mind”.
Whereas, according to William James, “attention is focusing of consciousness on a particular object.
It implies withdrawal from some things in order to deal effectively with others. It is taking possession
of one, out of several simultaneous objects or trains of thought by the mind, in clear and vivid form”.
Thus, attention is essentially process and not a product. It helps in our awareness or consciousness of
our environment, which is of selective kind, because in a given time, we can concentrate or focus our
consciousness on a particular object only. The concentration provided by the process of attention
helps us in the clarity of the perception of the perceived object or phenomenon. Thus, attention is
not merely a cognitive factor but is essentially determined by emotions, interest, attitude and
memory. 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.
There are broadly four forms of attention: selective attention, divided attention, sustained attention,
and executive attention.
1. Selective attention When bombarded with numerous attention-grabbing environmental
factors or stimuli, our brain selectively focusses on particular stimuli and block out other
stimuli consciously. This term of attention is known as selective attention.
2. Divided attention It refers to the ability to maintain attention on two or more tasks
simultaneously. For example, texting while talking to someone. According to some
psychologists it is the ability to multi-task.
3. Executive attention This form of attention helps us in blocking out unimportant features of
the environment and motivates us to attend only those features that are important of our
goal accomplishment.
4. Sustained attention This form of attention helps us in maintaining focus or concentration on
one task for a prolonged period of time.
Difference between selective and divided attention
Selective attention and divided attention are two different cognitive processes related to how
individuals allocate their attentional resources. Here are the key differences between selective
attention and divided attention:
1. Selective Attention: Selective attention involves focusing on a specific stimulus while ignoring
other competing stimuli in the environment.
• Nature: It is a concentration on one particular aspect or task, excluding or minimizing the
processing of irrelevant information.
• Example: Listening to music while studying and ignoring background conversations, or
focusing on a specific person in a crowded room.
• Characteristics: Selective attention is about prioritizing and directing cognitive resources to a
single, relevant task or stimulus.
