Page 2 - Sensory, Attentional and Perceptual Processes

a) are related to the features of stimuli. Other things which are important
determinants of attention held constant.
b) Large, bright, and moving stimuli easily catch our attention.

c) Stimuli, which are novel and moderately complex, also easily get into our
focus.
d) Studies indicate that human photographs are more likely to be attended to
than the photographs of inanimate objects.
e) Rhythmic auditory stimuli are more readily attended to than verbal
narrations.
f) Sudden and intense stimuli have a wonderful capacity to draw attention.
2. Internal Factors

a) lie within the individual.
b) These may be divided into two main categories, viz. motivational factors
and cognitive factors.
c) Motivational factors relate to our biological or social needs.
d) For example, when we are hungry, we notice even a faint smell of food.
e) Cognitive factors include factors like interest, attitude, and preparatory

set.
f) Objects or events, which appear interesting, are readily attended by
individuals.
g) Similarly we pay quick attention to certain objects or events to which we
are favourably disposed.
h) Preparatory set generates a mental state to act in a certain way and
readiness of the individual to respond to one kind of stimuli and not to
others.

THEORIES OF SELECTIVE ATTENTION

Filter theory
1. was developed by Broadbent (1956).
2. According to this theory, many stimuli simultaneously enter our receptors creating a
kind of “bottleneck” situation.
3. Moving through the short-term memory system, they enter the selective filter, which
allows only one stimulus to pass through for higher levels of processing.
4. Other stimuli are screened out at that moment of time.
5. Thus, we become aware of only that stimulus, which gets access through the selective

filter.