Psychology Unit 1: Introduction to Attention
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Questions and Answers

What is the definition of attention as described by 19th century psychologist William James?

Attention is the taking possession by the mind, in clear and vivid form, of one out of what seem several simultaneously possible objects or trains of thought.

What does the 'selection' process in attention refer to?

  • The conscious effort needed to maintain attention.
  • Involuntary directing attention to a specific stimulus.
  • The process of filtering out irrelevant information.
  • Attending to a specific object, separating it from other unattended objects. (correct)

    • What are examples of stimuli that can trigger your attention automatically?

    Examples include hearing sirens of an ambulance, a car horn, or sudden movement in your peripheral vision.

    Selection of information is a simple process when dealing with multiple stimuli in the environment.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are the two main types of attention discussed in the text?

    <p>The two main types of attention are automatic and controlled.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of these characteristics describe automatic attention?

    <p>Effortless and involuntary.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of these characteristics describe controlled attention?

    <p>Requires conscious effort.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a key challenge with controlled processes?

    <p>A key challenge is that resources for controlled processes are limited, meaning that performance in all tasks can be disrupted if too many are attempted simultaneously.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Automatic processes can be learned through repeated practice.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the spotlight model of attention?

    <p>The spotlight model proposes that attention is like a spotlight, focusing on a specific area in the environment while ignoring others.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Objects falling within the spotlight can be processed more slowly and with less accuracy.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does automatic processing influence the spotlight model?

    <p>Automatic processing can influence where the spotlight is directed. For example, a sudden loud noise might automatically capture attention, causing the spotlight to shift to that location.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Attention can shift faster than the eye movement.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the cocktail party effect?

    <p>The cocktail party effect refers to the ability to selectively focus on one conversation in a noisy environment while filtering out other sounds, such as background noise or other conversations.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What do both the filter and spotlight models of attention attempt to explain?

    <p>The mechanisms involved in attentional selection.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Broadbent's single filter model proposes that all sensory information is analyzed for meaning before being filtered.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does Triesman's dual filter model add to the understanding of attention?

    <p>It suggests that information can be processed for meaning even if it is initially filtered out.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Stroop task is designed to measure how well we can ignore irrelevant information in a visual task.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Incongruent trials, which involve mismatched colors and words, can be resolved faster than congruent trials on the Stroop task.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of these factors can influence the Stroop effect?

    <p>All of the above.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the set size effect in visual search?

    <p>The set size effect describes the relationship between the number of items in a visual search and the difficulty of finding a target. As the set size increases, the difficulty of the search task also increases.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Searching for a target based on a single unique feature, such as color, is considered a conjunction search.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Contextual cues can make visual search more efficient.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are flashbulb memories?

    <p>Flashbulb memories are highly detailed and vivid memories often associated with significant events, such as natural disasters or major news events. They are often considered to be ‘snapshots’ of memory, capturing a specific moment in time.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of processing is characterized by piecing together smaller pieces of sensory information?

    <p>Bottom-up processing</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the difference between overt and covert attention?

    <p>Overt attention involves physically shifting your gaze to the object of attention, while covert attention involves mentally shifting attention to an object without moving your eyes.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Inhibition of return is a mechanism that aids in locating new objects or exploring new areas.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is inattentional blindness?

    <p>Inattentional blindness refers to the failure to notice a visually obvious object or event when our attention is directed elsewhere or focused on a specific task.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which attentional theory proposes that unattended information is not completely filtered out but is attenuated or 'turned down'?

    <p>Attenuation theory</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The late selection model proposes that all incoming sensory information is analyzed for both physical characteristics and meaning before filtering takes place.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Unit 1: Introduction to Attention

    • Attention allows navigating a complex world of information and distractions.
    • 19th-century psychologist, William James, defined attention as the mind taking possession of a specific object or train of thought, involving withdrawal from other stimuli.
    • Selection is the process of attending to one object while ignoring others.
    • Attention is affected by competing stimuli, which fade into the background and require stimuli to trigger attention.
    • Automatic processes are involuntary, quickly directing attention (e.g., emergency siren).
    • Controlled processes are conscious, intentional, and effortful, and limited (e.g., engaging in a conversation while driving).

    Unit 2: Automatic and Controlled Attention

    • Automatic attention allows for actions to occur rapidly and efficiently (e.g., responding to an alarm).
    • Controlled attention is more conscious and effortful, requiring more cognitive resources (e.g., making strategic decisions during tasks).
    • Controlled processes are crucial for tasks requiring flexibility (e.g., adjusting driving while talking to a passenger).

    Unit 3: The Spotlight Model

    • Attentional spotlight: focuses on a specific part of the environment.
    • Objects within the spotlight are processed more quickly and accurately.
    • The spotlight is influenced by automatic processes (attention can shift before the eyes move).

    Unit 4: Filter Models

    • Auditory attention filters among competing sounds.
    • Cocktail party effect: the ability to focus on a specific conversation from numerous, nearby conversations.
    • Filtering focuses on physical characteristics (pitch, speed, etc.) of sound.

    Unit 5: The Stroop Task

    • Designed to test selective attention by comparing congruent and incongruent trials.
    • Measuring the difference between the time taken for congruent versus incongruent trials reveals attentional processes.
    • Involves naming the color of a word displayed (e.g., the word "red" in blue font).
    • Automatic word reading interferes with color naming due to congruent/incongruent trials.
    • Performance is faster for congruent trials compared to incongruent trials.
    • Visual search: identifying a target among distractors.
    • Set size effect: increasing the number of distractors makes searching harder.
    • Feature search: noticing a target based on a single feature (e.g., color); easy to do and fast.
    • Conjunction search: identifying a target based on multiple combined features (e.g., size and color); more difficult.

    Other Concepts

    • Flashbulb memories: highly vivid memories of significant events, often intertwined with attention.
    • Top-down processing: using prior experience and knowledge to process information.
    • Bottom-up processing: processing sensory information from the environment to identify stimuli.
    • Orienting: shifting attention to a stimulus.
    • Over/covert attention: attending to something without moving the eyes.
    • Inhibition of return: preventing attention from returning to previously attended locations.
    • Late selection models: filters occur later, after information has been perceived for both physical and semantic content analysis.

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    Description

    Explore the fundamental concepts of attention in this quiz. Learn about the definitions, processes, and the distinction between automatic and controlled attention. This unit examines how attention helps navigate the complex world of distractions and stimuli.

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