Attention and Its Psychological Characteristics

Abstract:
Attention is the process through which human consciousness is directed toward a particular object, activity, or thought, distinguishing it from others. Attention is one of the important processes in psychology, as it ensures the effectiveness of cognitive activity. The importance of attention in human life is extremely high. This article discusses the types, significance, and characteristics of attention.

Keywords: voluntary and involuntary attention, orientation, shift of attention, division of attention, span, strength and stability of attention, absent-mindedness, concentration.

Attention participates in all types of our mental activity. Every object, event, action, or thought that we perceive or imagine during our activities can become the object of attention. Attention is divided into two types: voluntary and involuntary attention.

Voluntary attention occurs when a person intentionally concentrates their thoughts on something in advance in order to think about or study it. For example, when a student decides beforehand to carefully listen to a lesson and focuses their attention on it, this is an example of voluntary attention.

Involuntary attention, on the other hand, is the directing of attention toward something that happens suddenly. Factors that attract involuntary attention include brightness, shine, size, or loud sounds. The initial physiological basis of involuntary attention consists of orientation or investigatory reflexes. The famous academician I. Pavlov referred to these reflexes with the phrase: “What is this?” For example, when lightning strikes, its brightness and loud sound attract our attention, which is an example of involuntary attention.

In addition, attention has the characteristic of shifting. We move from one activity to another. For instance, switching from reading a book to drawing a picture or cooking food is an example of the shift of attention. I. Pavlov once said: “If the human brain were visible, we would see something flashing and moving from one place to another inside it.”

The strength and stability of attention are among its main characteristics. Attention may be strong or weak. Strong attention greatly helps a person learn and understand things. However, in some people the opposite may occur, which is weak attention. In such cases, a person cannot concentrate on a particular issue. The weakest form of attention is called scattered or absent-minded attention. Sometimes it is referred to simply as absent-mindedness. Absent-mindedness is the inability of a person to keep attention focused on one thing; attention constantly shifts from one object to another without remaining stable. We can observe absent-mindedness in young children and people suffering from nervous disorders. However, it is incorrect to say that absent-minded people cannot pay attention at all. All people are capable of paying attention, but the duration and stability of attention differ from person to person.

In conclusion, attention is the concentration of consciousness on a particular action, activity, or thought. Through attention, we learn, perform tasks, listen, and observe. Attention is not a separate psychological process like perception, memory, imagination, thinking, or speech. Rather, attention appears in all psychological processes. However, we cannot always remain attentive.

References:

1. F. I. Xaydarov, N. I. Xalilova. General Psychology (Textbook). Tashkent, 2010.

2. P. I. Ivanov, M. E. Zufarova. General Psychology. Tashkent, 2008.

3. Complete Collection of Works, Volume 3, Book 1, p. 248.

4. Complete Collection of Works, Volume 4, p. 28.

Dildora Tillanazarova