PSYCH207 Chapter Notes - Chapter 4: Superior Colliculus, Cocktail Party, Stroop Effect
Document Summary
Selective attention: we usually focus our attention on one or a few tasks or events rather than on many. Contradicts filter theory which claims that all unattended messages are allowed limited amounts of information to pass through for processing) completely ignored. Attentional shift to unattended message is unintentional and completed without awareness. People with low working-memory spans are less able to focus. Attenuation theory: instead of considering unattended messages as completely. Difficult because reading is automatic processes that adults do hard to stop cognitive tasks (analogy: student managing monthly budget) Pay more attention to thinks we are interested in, are in the mood for, or have a colour word that did not match the colour of the ink, participants struggled. Not reading the word becomes harder than reading the word yourself from doing it. Attention, capacity, and mental effort judged important incoming data and not on the mental effort or concentration. Does not interfere with other mental activities.
