Attention and Perception — Flashcards

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Attention is the process of focusing consciousness on a particular stimulus while ignoring others. It involves selecting one out of many simultaneous stimuli for processing. For example, focusing on y…

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Alertness is the ability to quickly respond to stimuli by being mentally active and ready. It helps us react promptly to important events. For example, a student stays alert during roll call to respon…

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Vigilance, or sustained attention, is the ability to maintain focus on a task over a long period. For example, a security guard stays vigilant throughout the night to detect any suspicious activity.

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Selective attention is the ability to focus on one stimulus while ignoring others. For example, watching your favorite show on TV while ignoring your mother’s instructions in the background.

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Divided attention is when we focus on multiple tasks at once. It reduces efficiency because our brain has limited processing capacity. For example, texting while listening to class leads to missing ke…

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Voluntary attention is intentional focus on a task to achieve a goal. For example, a football player pays full attention during a match to score goals.

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Involuntary attention occurs when a stimulus automatically grabs our focus without intention. For example, loud sounds or bright lights in a movie theater force us to pay attention.

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Alternating attention is the ability to switch focus between tasks. For example, while cooking, you alternate between chopping vegetables, checking the oven, and stirring a pot.