Functions of attention, its properties and types

The term "attention" describes the focus and direction of mental activity on a particular subject. Since it reflects the ratio of the subject and the object, attention is shown by two-sidedness. That is, it is aimed at the object, while the object itself attracts attention. A characteristic feature of the category is that the direction of thinking is selective. The object to which it is directed is clearly and clearly understood. The phenomenon of selective focus is central to the study of this category.

Attention Functions

Focus, first of all, implies the selectivity of mental activity. Also in this concept is the ability to save activities for a set period of time. That is, to be careful, it is not enough to choose some type of activity, it is also necessary to retain this choice. It's not so hard to focus your attention on how to keep it for the right time.

Describing the functions of attention, it is also necessary to mention the depth and concentration. These functions depend on the difficulty of the problem being solved, the chosen activity. The more complex it is, the greater the depth is inherent in attention. Along with this, concentration is closely connected with distraction from extraneous affairs. The higher the concentration, the less clearly the person perceives the environment.

Attention also provides the function of control and regulation of activities. This is due to the fact that, being focused on the performance of a certain type of activity, a person assigns to the periphery all other cases. The person remains focused on solving a specific problem, until a certain goal is achieved.

Attention is often expressed in movements, posture, facial expressions. Attentive listener sharply differs from inattentive. However, in some cases, attention can be directed not to a specific object, but to thoughts or images that are in the mind of a person. In this case, we can talk about intellectual attention. In the case where the person is most focused on physical activities, use the term "motor focus". Thus, the functions of attention only ensure the activity of various processes, but does not have its own cognitive content.

Attention itself pertains to cognitive functions, such as perception, sensation, imagination, thinking and memory. So, attention raises the effectiveness of the activity for which it is directed.

Types and properties of attention

The first kind is natural attention. It is inherited. Social is developed during life when dealing with people. The functions of attention and species are closely interrelated. The involuntary is very closely related to the natural, but not connected with consciousness and will, information is remembered arbitrarily. Arbitrary attention by its nature is closer to social. The activities are carried out according to a well-planned plan. Sensual is characterized by the concentration of feelings on a phenomenon or object. Intellectual attention controls the thinking of a person, his logic. This is how the types of attention and their characteristics look.

One of the most important properties of this mental process is stability, that is, the ability to focus on a particular object. Concentration is the ability to focus on a particular object for a long period of time. Attention also has a switchability. This property allows a person to translate it between different objects. Distribution allows you to focus on several objects at once. The volume characterizes the number of objects or objects that a person simultaneously keeps in the field of attention.