Attention is the capability to engage in some things while taking no notice of others (Anderson, 2015). Attention is manageable, selective, and partial. It is advancement where external motivations create internal representations, which gain cognizance. Models of attention hypothesize how the right incentives attract our consciousness (Anderson, 2015). Early selection theories suggest that physical features influence our center of attention. On the other hand, late selection prototypes suggest that morphological features affect our current emphasis on responsiveness.
In this section, I focus on the early selection theory of attention. Donald Broadbent proposed the model. It claims that stimuli are sifted, or nominated to be processed, at an early phase during processing. A sifter picks useful data based on their simple features like hue, tone, or course of stimuli. Once the stimulus is presented, the data is stored in a preattentive memory shortly (Anderson, 2015). Information with analogous features passes through the sifter. They are then prepared to be processed for meaning. At this stage, undue attention is filtered out.
An advantage associated with the use of this theory is that it necessitates a small modification (Miller, 2011). For instance, in every individual’s lexical memory certain terms have lesser thresholds of stimulation compared with others. Therefore, data is still filtered out early. However, words that the audience is familiar with are more easily identified and need a lesser amount of analysis (Shoemaker, 2005). Therefore, the data that does get through the sifter is adequate. In addition, terms with semantic context could also pass through to our consciousness.
A disadvantage associated with the theory is that it does not exhaust the rational interpretations of attention and awareness that have to be understood (Pashler, 2005). Based on this, the model cannot be defended in substantial form, which is bare a startling supposition. To understand the concept of attention, I believe that the theory should be used in conjunction with other models such as the late selection theory of attention. Therefore, I urge the researchers to utilize both approaches in their analysis.
References
Anderson, J. (2015). Cognitive psychology and its implications (8th ed.). San Francisco: W.H. Freeman.
Miller, P. (2011). Theories of developmental psychology. New York: Worth Publishers.
Pashler, H. (2005). The psychology of attention. Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press.
Shoemaker, D. (2005). Theories of delinquency. New York: Oxford University Press.