Attention is a difficult concept, there is no clear definition for it. Yet it is clear that ten to fifteen percent of the population exhibits attention problems. People who have difficulty sustaining attention may have ADHD, but this does not necessarily have to be the case. After all, without ADHD it can be quite difficult to maintain your attention long enough.
Automatic and controlled attention
Attention can be divided into two types: automatic attention and controlled attention. Reading is an example of automatic attention. Once you learn to read, it’s virtually impossible not to read a word when you see it. There is a test in which different colors are written in letters. For example, letters say blue, but the letters are red. The challenge is then to name the color of the letters (in this case red) but not the color of the writing (in this case blue). People automatically read what is written, which makes this very difficult. Controlled attention, on the other hand, is a conscious choice. Sometimes this is also accompanied by automatic attention, for example when you are cycling (automatic attention) and having a conversation (controlled attention). However, when an unexpected situation arises on the road, you will have to focus your attention on cycling and the conversation will come to a standstill.
Function of attention
Attention processes have several functions:
- Selective attention: With selective attention you pay so much attention to a certain stimulus that the rest disappears completely. A good example of this is a young person who is so busy with his computer that he does not hear his mother calling. In this case, all his attention is focused on the computer.
- Focused attention: When you focus on certain stimuli, this is called focused attention. You do this, for example, when you search for the name ‘Olivier’ in a list of names that is not in alphabetical order. You look for a round initial letter and focus on that. This way you don’t have to read all the names to know where the name ‘Olivier’ is.
- Divided attention: In some cases you can divide your attention among several things. For example, if you are having a conversation yourself, but suddenly hear something interesting behind you, you will try to listen to that conversation while you are having another conversation. You then divide your attention over two conversations.
- Sustained attention: Sustained attention requires you to focus on something for longer. For example, the staff at Schiphol must concentrate on the same screen for a very long time when checking bags for any illegal items. They must remain focused for a long time so that they do not lose attention.
Hold attention longer
Of course it is difficult to always maintain attention. It is not without reason that part of the population has difficulty with attention processes. Yet there are ways to manipulate attention so that it can be retained for longer.
- Rest breaks: Breaks are held at fixed times in schools. This is not without reason, because these breaks allow children to let go of their attention for a while and then concentrate better again.
- Striking stimuli: Your attention is attracted by striking stimuli. It is not without reason that hazard labels on bottles always have a striking color. Yet you can also ignore these colors. For example, on the Internet we can easily ignore flashy advertisements and focus on the information we are looking for.
- Motivation: It is clearly visible, especially in children, that they can concentrate better if they have the prospect of a reward. For example, if they know that they can go outside as soon as they have finished their work, they can work more concentrated than if it does not matter much whether they have finished their work or not. Of course this also works for adults.
It is a misunderstanding that only people with ADHD have difficulty paying attention to something. Almost everyone suffers from it at some point. You need attention at many different times and sometimes it is difficult to focus.