Attention - focus and concentration of consciousness on an object, phenomenon or activity. The direction of consciousness is the choice of the object, and concentration implies distraction from everything that is not related to this object.
Attention determines the successful orientation of the subject in the surrounding world and provides a more complete and distinct reflection of the subject in the psyche. The object of attention is in the center of our consciousness, everything else is perceived weakly, indistinctly, but the focus of our attention can change.
Attention is not an independent mental process, as it cannot be seen outside of other processes. We listen attentively or inattentively, look, think and do. Thus, attention is only a property of various mental processes.
Physiological bases of attention.
In the cortex of the large hemispheres of the brain, two processes can occur excitation and inhibition. When a person is attentive to something, it means that he or she has an arousal point in his or her cerebral cortex. The rest of the brain is in a state of inhibition at this time. Therefore, a person who is focused on one thing may not notice anything else at this point. The activity of unexcited parts of the brain is connected at this time with what is usually called the unconscious, the automatic activity of a person.
The so-called orientation reflex is of great importance for the appearance of attention. It is an inborn reaction of the organism to any change in the environment. The ability to be wary, sometimes reacting to a very minor change in the environment, is explained by the presence in the large hemispheres of the brain of a network of nervous pathways connecting the reticular formation (a set of brain structures that regulate the level of excitability) with different parts of the cortex of large hemispheres. Nerve impulses from this network arise along with signals from the senses and excite the cortex, bringing it into a state of readiness to respond to expected further stimuli. Thus, the reticular formation together with the senses causes the appearance of an orientation reflex, which is the primary physiological basis for attention.
Types of attention.
If the teacher's lecture is interesting in content, the students listen to it without any effort. This is a manifestation of so-called involuntary attention. It often appears in a person not only without any effort but also without the intention to see, hear, etc. Therefore, this type of attention is also called unintended.
What causes involuntary attention? There are several reasons here:
1. the relative strength of the irritant.
2. The unexpectedness of the stimulus.
3. Moving objects. French psychologist T. Ribaud especially emphasized this factor, he believed that it is due to the purposeful activation of movements is the concentration and strengthening of attention on the subject.
4. The novelty of the irritant.
5. Contrasting objects or phenomena.
6. The internal condition of a person.
The so-called arbitrary attention has a different character. It arises because a person has a purpose, intention to perceive or do something. This kind of attention is also called intentional. Arbitrary attention has a volitional character.
Psychologists are still the third type of attention, which arises after certain willful efforts, but when a person "enters" the work, begins to easily focus on it. Soviet psychologist N. F. Dobrynin called this attention post random (or secondary), as it replaces the usual arbitrary attention.
If the condition of involuntary attention is, as it has been said, the quality of external stimuli and peculiarities of a person's internal state (his needs, interests), then conscious attitude to activity is necessary for appearance and maintenance of arbitrary attention. However, it often happens that this conscious attitude is present, the goal is clear and its achievement is recognized as necessary, yet the person cannot work in concentration. This is the case for people with little will who are not used to making a certain effort to be attentive.