Page 1 - Sensory, Attentional and Perceptual Processes

Class XI

Chap 5

Sensory, Attentional and Perceptual Processes

Lesson Notes

Module 2

ATTENTIONAL PROCESSES

The process through which certain stimuli are selected from a group of others is generally
referred to as attention. Besides selection, attention also refers to several other properties
like alertness, concentration, and search. Alertness refers to an individual’s readiness to
deal with stimuli that appear before her/him.

PROPERTIES
Attention has a focus as well as a fringe.
 When the field of awareness is centered on a particular object or event, it is called
focus or the focal point of attention.
 On the contrary, when the objects or events are away from the center of awareness
and one is only vaguely aware of them, they are said to be at the fringe of
attention.

TYPES OF ATTENTIONAL PROCESSES
Attention has been classified in a number of ways.
A process-oriented view divides it into two types, namely selective and sustained.
Sometimes we can also attend to two different things at the same time. When this
happens, it is called divided attention.

SELECTIVE ATTENTION is concerned mainly with the selection of a limited number

of stimuli or objects from a large number of stimuli.
This means that it can deal only with a few stimuli at a given moment of time.
Factors Affecting Selective Attention
1. External Factors