Psychological - Perceptions and Distortion of Perception

Attention

Focusing our mental resources on certain information, while blocking out irrelevant information. Example: Right now, you are attending to this presentation. In doing so, you are most likely ignoring the sensation of the pressure of your feet against the ground.

Characteristics of our attention

1. Limited – We have a certain amount of attention that can be utilised at any given time. – We can’t attend to all sensory stimuli; instead, we filter relevant components into our awareness.

2. Selective – We can direct our attention to certain stimuli at the exclusion of other stimuli.

3. Controllable – However, our attention often shifts without us being aware of it.

Cocktail party effect

Suggests that we tend to direct our attention to stimuli that we deem personally relevant

Factors that influence the way our attention functions

Arousal – Different states of arousal, such as being fatigued or inebriated, can reduce our level of attention. While arousing states, such as mild stress, can enhance our attention.

Task difficulty – A new or challenging task requires more attentional resources.

Anxiety – Anxiety can reduce the cognitive resources that we have available.

Skill development – Through practice in attending to certain stimuli, you can become better at these attentional tasks.

Selective attention

Focusing our mental resources on one stimuli at the exclusion of other stimuli.

Controlled process

A task that requires selective attention in order to be completed. Usually the task is difficult or unfamiliar.

Divided attention

Splitting attention across two or more stimuli at the one time.

Automatic process

A task that allows divided attention in order to be completed. Usually the task is easy or well-learned and requires little effort.

Sustained attention

The process of maintaining attention on one stimulus or task over an extended period of time.

Fallibility

The quality of being prone to error or experiencing difficulties in judgement

Supertaster

Individuals who have significantly low thresholds for taste stimuli and an unusually high number of taste buds

Miraculin

A type of protein extracted from the ‘miracle berry’ which alters taste perception in humans.

Perceptual distortion

An error in the judgement or interpretation of sensory stimuli.

Synaesthesia

A perceptual phenomenon characterised by the experience of unusual perceptions in one sensory system after another sensory system has been activated.

Spatial neglect

An inability to perceive, report, or orient sensory information located within one side of space.