Stability of attention is ... The notion of attention in psychology. Main properties and types of attention

Stability of attention is one of the properties that characterizes the ability over a long period of time to concentrate on the same process or phenomenon.

What is attention

Attention is (in psychology) a purposeful perception of a certain object or phenomenon. It is important to understand that this is a rather changeable phenomenon, which can be attended by both internal and external factors.

Attention is in psychology a kind of attitude of a person to the object with which he interacts. It can be influenced not only by mental and psychological characteristics, but also by the person's interest in working with certain subjects.

We can say that the sustainability of attention is one of the most important conditions for successful activity in any sphere. Thanks to this category, the clarity of human perception of the surrounding world and those processes that occur in it are determined. Despite the fact that with concentration on the main object all the others seem to go to the background, attention can constantly switch.

To study the attention of scientists devote a lot of time, it can not be considered a self-sufficient psychological phenomenon or process. It is inextricably linked with many other phenomena and is only considered in close relationship with other concomitant processes, being one of their many properties.

Types and forms of attention

We can say that attention is quite a complex and multifaceted phenomenon. It can differ on the basis of primary or secondary perception of information. So, it is possible to allocate voluntary and involuntary attention.

If a person unconsciously concentrates on this or that object or process, then this kind of attention is called involuntary. It is a question of unconscious installations, which can be caused by a strong sudden impact of the stimulus. Such a view often grows into conscious voluntary attention. Also passive concentration is often caused by past impressions, which to some extent repeat in the present.

Thus, if we summarize the above information, then we can say that involuntary attention is due to the following series of reasons:

• Unexpected impact of the irritant;
• Power of influence;
• New, unfamiliar sensations;
• Dynamism of the stimulus (it is the moving objects that most often cause concentration of attention);
• Contrasting situations;
• Mental processes.

Arbitrary attention arises as a result of conscious excitatory processes in the cerebral cortex. Quite often, for its formation, external influence is necessary (for example, teachers, parents, authoritative personalities).

It is important to understand that voluntary attention is an indispensable attribute of a person's labor activity. It is accompanied by physical and emotional efforts, and also causes fatigue, like physical work. That's why psychologists recommend sometimes switching to abstract objects, so as not to expose your brain to colossal strains.

Psychologists distinguish not only voluntary and involuntary attention. After the person has concentrated on the object and has studied it well, further perception happens automatically. This phenomenon has received the name post-personal, or secondary.

If we talk about forms of attention, then we can distinguish external (on surrounding objects), internal (on mental processes), and also motor (perceived moving objects).

The basic properties of attention

Psychologists distinguish the following properties of attention: stability, direction, distribution, volume, intensity, switchability, concentration. Let us consider them in more detail.

• Concentration is the ability to hold attention to a particular object or process. This means that it is allocated and separated from the general background. The strength of communication with an object is determined by how bright, pronounced, and clear it is.
• The amount of attention means the number of objects that can be captured by the consciousness of a person at a time. Depending on this, people can perceive a different number of information units. The volume can be determined by means of special tests. Depending on the results, special exercises can be recommended to increase it.
• Stability of attention is an indicator that determines the duration of concentration on the same object.
• Switchability is a purposeful change in the focus of attention. This can be due to both the nature of the activity and the need for rest and relaxation.
• The distribution determines the ability of attention to simultaneously concentrate on several objects of different nature. In this case, different sensory organs may be involved.

What is sustainability?

Stability of attention is a property that is determined by the ability for a long period of time to remain focused on any object or type of activity. It can be said that this is a characteristic that determines the duration of the concentration.

It should be noted that the stability of attention can not be determined in relation to any one object. A person can switch between objects or activities, yet the general direction and meaning should remain constant. Thus, if a person for a certain period of time is engaged in activities (or several activities) to achieve a specific goal, then one can judge the stability of his attention.

This category is characterized by a number of requirements, the main is the diversity of actions and impressions that they bring. If the nature of the stimulation is unchanged, then in the part of the brain responsible for this or that activity, inhibition is observed, and as a result, attention begins to dissipate. If the nature and conditions of activity constantly vary, the concentration will be long.

It is worth noting that concentration and switching of attention can alternate, depending on internal and external conditions. Even if the individual is in the state of the highest concentration, due to internal brain processes, there may be some hesitation. If we talk about external stimuli, they can not always lead to the dispersion of attention (this largely depends on their intensity).

Attention Distribution

Distributed attention is a state that occurs as a result of the simultaneous execution of several actions. So, for example, the minibus driver not only controls the vehicle, but also controls the situation on the road. The teacher also monitors the observance of discipline while informing students. Another category can be illustrated by the work of a cook who can simultaneously control the preparation of several products.

Psychologists study not only the phenomenon of distribution, but also its physiological nature. This process is caused by the appearance in the cerebral cortex of a specific focus of excitement, which can spread its influence to other sites. In this case, partial braking can be observed. Nevertheless, it absolutely does not affect the performance of actions, if they are brought to automaticity. This explains the ease of implementation of complex processes in people who have mastered their profession well.

The distribution of attention can be difficult if the individual simultaneously attempts to perform actions that are not connected in any way (this has been proved by numerous experiments). Nevertheless, if one of them is brought to automatism or habit, the task is simplified. The ability to combine the performance of several actions at the same time refers to a category such as health factors.

Levels of attention

The level of attention is the dependence of concentration on a certain activity on physiological and mental processes. So, we can talk about the following categories:

• The level of the physical body implies an awareness that the objects to which attention is directed are separated from the organism itself, and therefore are foreign (this makes it possible to perceive them in spite of physiological processes);
• The energy level implies a higher level of interaction with objects, which consists in obtaining some internal sensations associated with the work process (they can help concentration or dispelling attention);
• The level of energy exchange implies that a high degree of concentration is achieved due to the fact that a person receives moral and physical satisfaction from performing a particular process;
• The level of general space implies that concentration and sustainability of attention may to some extent come from one fact of being with an object within one limited territory;
• Extra-dimensional attention is associated with internal mental and psychological processes (it is an unconditional understanding or knowledge that the individual receives with experience of activity);
• The level of will is the ability to force oneself to focus on unwanted or uninteresting activities because of its necessity to achieve a certain result;
• The level of awareness implies that concentration occurs when a person understands the meaning and anticipates the results of activity.

How to develop the stability of attention

At the moment there are many methods and tests that allow you to determine levels of stability of attention. Unfortunately, their results are not always satisfactory, but this situation is completely remediable. The development of the stability of attention becomes possible, thanks to the techniques developed by psychologists. This allows you to increase efficiency, as well as learning.

The most effective and often used are the following exercises:

• Set the timer of your mobile phone for two minutes. All this time you should completely focus your attention on the tip of your finger (no matter what). If you can cope with this task without problems, then try to complicate it. For example, turn on the TV and try to keep it on your finger against the background. It is best if you make such exercises daily.
• Take a comfortable position and concentrate completely on your breathing. You can also try to feel the heartbeat. In this case, the room does not necessarily have to be perfect silence, you can turn on the music. This exercise is useful not only for the development of concentration of attention, but also for relaxation.
• While in public transport, take a seat by the window and completely concentrate on the glass, not paying attention to the objects behind it. Later, change the priority.
• The next exercise is performed before bedtime, because it not only develops concentration, but also helps to relax. Take a standard sheet with the text and in the middle place the dot with a green felt-tip pen or marker. To look at it it is necessary for 5 minutes, thus not allowing penetration into consciousness of any extraneous thoughts.
• If your activity is connected with the perception of sounds, then it is necessary to train this apparatus. It is advisable to go to the park and for 10 minutes try to hear only the sounds of nature, not paying attention to the conversations of passers-by or the noise of passing cars.

The factors of the health of the psychological plan are largely related to the ability to maintain the stability of attention. This brings success in professional and daily activities. If your natural abilities are not at the highest level, then you need to develop them with special exercises.

Neuropsychology

Neuropsychology of attention is a separate area of knowledge that deals with the study of concentration issues, linking them with nervous processes. Initially, similar studies were conducted exclusively on animals, by connecting electrodes to certain areas of the brain. In order to investigate the stability of human attention, apply the technology of the electroencephalogram. For this, the body must be in a waking state. Thus it is possible to fix the excitation or inhibition of nerve impulses during the performance of a certain type of activity.

In this context, a huge role played by psychologist E. N. Sokolov. Through a large number of studies, he proved that with repeated execution of the same action, attention becomes automatic. Thus, the brain ceases to react actively to the stimulus, which affects the results of the electroencephalogram. The brain decides that in this case, there is no need for excitation, because the body has a certain mechanical memory.

The process of selective concentration

Selective attention is a psychological and mental process, which consists in filtering external stimuli and stimuli, in order to identify those that really require concentration and concentration.

This phenomenon is constantly being studied by psychologists about the extent to which mental processes are dependent on the elective activity of the brain. This can be explained by a simple example. If at first in a noisy place we hear the rumble of voices, then, as soon as someone addresses directly to us, we begin to focus our attention only on this while the background noises are lost.

Psychologists conducted such an experiment: headphones were inserted into the ears of the subject, into which various sound rows were fed. To their surprise, the man heard only one of the tracks. At the same time, when a certain signal was given, attention was switched to another melody.

Selective attention concerns not only hearing, but also visual perception. If you try to catch each eye with different pictures on two monitors, then you will not succeed. You can clearly see only one image.

Thus, we can say that the human brain has the ability to filter information that comes through certain channels, focusing only on one of the significant points. Concentration and attention switching can be determined by internal or external factors.

Conclusion

Perseverance of attention is the ability of a person to focus on the study of a particular object or the performance of a particular type of activity. This factor in many respects determines the operability and volumes of perceived information. It is important to understand that concentration of attention allows you to drop all secondary factors into the background, but this does not mean that the change of accents is excluded.

If we talk about the types of attention, then we can single out an arbitrary and involuntary. The first of them is conscious. In the center of attention is precisely the object that directly interests the individual. At the same time, if such concentration occurs regularly, the brain begins to concentrate automatically. This kind of attention is called postoperational. But often it happens that the individual quite unexpectedly switches to objects or phenomena that have no direct relationship to his activities. In this case, one can speak of involuntary attention. It can be sharp sounds, bright colors and stuff.

Attention has a number of properties. The main one is concentration. It implies the ability for a certain period of time to keep the focus on a particular object. The volume characterizes the number of objects or activities on which a person can concentrate simultaneously, but stability is the time during which this state can be maintained.

Quite interesting is the phenomenon of distribution attention. It means that a person does not need to concentrate on only one single activity. Sometimes, due to the nature of the activity, you have to simultaneously execute several processes. At the same time, some of them are brought to automaticity, while others require certain mental and psychological efforts. The most vivid examples can serve as a professional activity of a teacher or driver of a vehicle.

It is important to understand that not everyone is able to keep the same object for a long time or to perform a homogeneous activity. In order to find out their abilities, it is possible to undergo certain psychological tests. By their results, it is easy to determine the level of stability of attention. If it proves unsatisfactory, it is recommended to resort to a number of special exercises.

Quite actively, psychologists are studying such a phenomenon as selective concentration. This mechanism allows you to select the desired object from a number of similar ones. And we can talk about visual, auditory, tactile and other kinds of perceptions. Among the noise of voices, a person can distinguish a speech of the interlocutor, from several melodies he hears only one, and if it is a question of two images, it is impossible to catch them with each eye separately.