Meaning and Types of attention

Attention is the cognitive process of selectively concentrating on one aspect of the environment while ignoring other things. There are many factors that affect Attention; these are internal factors and external. Internal factors are the ones that belong to the individual, such as interests and expectations. External factors are those that come from the stimulus, the characteristics that belong to the stimuli that draw our attention. Examples might be color, shape, size or intensity. 

Attention can be divided into 5 types namely:

1. Divide Attention

2. Selective Attention

3. Focused Attention

4. Sustained Attention

5. Alternating Attention



Divided Attention

This is the highest level of attention and it refers to the ability to respond simultaneously to multiple tasks or multiple task demands.



Selective Attention

Selective Attention is the capacity to maintain a behavioral or cognitive set in the face of distracting or competing stimuli. Meaning that you block a distracting friend that speaks to you during class, because you are supposed to pay attention to the teacher.



Focused Attention

Focused attention required the ability to answer individually to visual, auditory or tactile stimuli.



Sustained Attention

Sustained Attention refers to the ability to maintain a consistent response during a continuous or repetitive activity, an example of this can be while watching a movie a person would most likely maintain a constant attention for the 2 hour movie.



Alternating Attention

Alternating Attention refers to the capacity for mental flexibility that allows individuals t

o shift their focus of attention and move between tasks having different cognitive requirements.