Objectives

Define attention.
State the types of attention.
Explain the span of attention.
Identify the determinants of attention.
Discuss the division of attention.
Define distraction.
Explain the ways to overcome on distraction.
Discusses the fluctuation of attention.
Attention
1
st
stage of perception.
Definition
Attention is the focusing of consciousness on a
particular object or idea a particular time to
the exclusion of other object or ideas.
It is the mental activity of the person
attending and a particular mode of
experience that s/he undergoes.
Types
HIV
Involution or Involuntary(no need of conscious
efforts i.e. loud sound, odors etc.)
Volition or Voluntary( need deliberate efforts, i.e.
uninterested lecture , difficult task)
Habitual(no conscious effort, attitude habit and
interest, sports person looks from sports things)
Span of attention
Maximum amount of material that can be
attended to in one period of attention, is
called the span of attention.
Normal span of Attention is 7 digits.
Determinants /factor affecting
Attention
External / Subjective
Internal/Objective
External / Subjective
Nature Of Stimulus: More Attractive Stimulus Catches Our Attention (Picture,
Word, Color Black)
Location Of Stimulus: Centre Picture Mango
Intensity: Changes In The Intensity Of The Stimulus Attract The Attention I.E.
Loud Sound, Bright Color, Alarm Soft.
Movement: Moving Toys
Size: Small Or Big Size Both Depend On Environment.
Contrast: Different From Surrounding . White Shirt Spot, Black Shirt & White
Trouser.
Novelty: New And Unusual Things I.E. Mobile , Bike.
Repetitions: Repeated cry i.e. child cry
Internal /subjective factor
Interest: Sportsperson, musician, unemployed.
Motives: child hungry cry for food even ignore his
favorite toy.
Experiences: somebody sees apple first time do not
perceive it as apple.
Mental set or expectancy: we attain to objective which
are familiar to us. Expecting a friend if door knock our
attention divert towards to our friend.
Emotional state: under stressful condition we fail to
perceive the surrounding fully.
Division and Degree of Attention
It is difficult to attend for a long time.
Stimuli affect us.
There is a continue attention with shifting of
attention.
Shifting of attention differ from person to person.
A person forced to carry on a particular task would
definitely experience fluctuation of attention
leading to distraction.
Distraction
It refers to the shifting of attention from one
stimulus to another.
It refers to an interference with our attention i.e.
lack of motivation, emotional disturbances,
headache , ill health, fatigue and boredom.
distraction
For example listening music and reading book
Music and book
Music
Read and hear
Total confusion
Ways to overcome on distraction
Become more active
Disregard the distraction
Making distraction a part of work i.e. music
Division of attention
It refer to the process of dividing attention
equally and simultaneously i.e. listening
lecture and writing notes.
Fluctuation of attention
If we hold a watch near to ear, we hear a
comparatively loud sound and than a faint sound,
though the sound of the ticking of the watch does
not vary. This change in our hearing of the sound
is due to fluctuation of attention.
Attention and the Nurse
Observation involves two mental activitiesattention
and perception. To improve observation:
Give your full attention to each task. Undertake only
one activity at a time. Avoid distractions.
Observe accurately and quickly but not hastily.
Keep your interest and motivation active.
Avoid personal bias or prejudice. It is possible to make
only partial or inaccurate observations of those about
whom you have negative feelings, e. g. the mentally
retarded, the aged, the terminally ill or those with
socially unacceptable diseases such as AIDS.
Cultivate the habit of observing accurately.
References :
Gulshan Mann, Harish Kumar Sharma,
Psychology For Nurses. 4
th
Edition, Jalandhar:
Lotas Publisher, Aug 2010.
Anthikad Jacob, Psychology For Nurses, 4
th
Edition, Jalandhar: Lotas Publisher, Aug 2009.