In math class, while trying to understand a complicated problem on the chalkboard, you look over your physics notes in preparation for a physics quiz scheduled for the next hour. How successful will you be at these dual-attention tasks, and why? Include at least three influences on attention in your discussion
What will be an ideal response?
ANSWER:
?You may not be successful at doing both tasks for the following reasons: (1) Maintaining the focus of your attention on both the lecture and the studying is very difficult. It is not easy to divide attention between two very different tasks. (2) Dividing attention between two stimuli that use the same sensory system (visual, in this case) is also very difficult. (3) Stress makes attending to either stimulus more difficult. The stress of worrying about the upcoming physics quiz and of trying to understand a complicated problem will interfere with attention. Stress tends to narrow attention, not broaden it.
You might also like to view...
One reason that the personality disorders are difficult to treat is that the afflicted individuals:
A) enjoy their symptoms and do not seek change. B) are frequently unaware that they have a problem. C) experience no distress and do not want treatment. D) have accompanying mood disorders that must be treated first.
In college, Edward comes to the realization that his own beliefs are often subjective. He notes that his roommate, who holds vastly different beliefs from his own, has his own "truth." Edward is engaged in
A) pragmatic thought. B) dualistic thinking. C) relativistic thinking. D) commitment within relativistic thinking.