What Is Attention and Why Is It So Hard to Maintain Today?
In everyday speech, we often use the term attention. But what exactly is attention, and can it be clearly defined?
One of the most frequently cited definitions was given more than a century ago by William James in his landmark work The Principles of Psychology. He wrote:
“Everyone knows what attention is. It is the taking possession by the mind, in clear and vivid form, of one out of what seem several simultaneously possible objects or trains of thought. Focalization and concentration of consciousness are of its essence. It implies a withdrawal from some things in order to deal effectively with others.”
This definition highlights the selective nature of attention—focusing on one thing necessarily means ignoring others.
According to Wikipedia, attention is the concentration of awareness on a particular phenomenon while excluding other stimuli. Several types of attention are commonly distinguished:
- Selective attention – prioritizing certain stimuli over others
- Sustained attention – maintaining focus over time
- Divided attention – sharing cognitive resources across multiple tasks
- Orienting attention – shifting focus in space or time
From a cognitive perspective, attention can be described as a mental process that enables us to select information, focus on it, and process it over a sustained period. Attention arises in the brain and is supported by multiple neural networks working together.
Attention in a Multidistracting World
Despite understanding what attention is, many of us experience difficulties maintaining it. We often feel unfocused or easily distracted, especially in the fast-paced, stimulus-rich world we live in today. Constant obligations, deadlines, and an ongoing stream of information make it increasingly difficult to concentrate.
Research shows that human attention spans have measurably decreased over the past few decades. Attention span refers to the amount of time a person can focus on a task before becoming distracted. One of the most significant contributors to this decline is digital distraction.
Smartphones, social media, notifications, and multitasking environments continuously compete for our attention. As a result, many people struggle to maintain focus, especially when consuming digital content.
You have likely experienced this yourself: while reading an article or watching online content, multiple visual and auditory elements compete for your attention, making it harder to stay focused and reducing overall comprehension.
Implications for Content Creation
If we want readers to stay focused on content, especially in a multidistracting environment, we must adapt how that content is designed. While advice such as “turn off notifications” or “use do not disturb mode” can help, it is equally important to create content that holds attention despite external distractions.
Research indicates that the average attention span has steadily declined:
- Around 2.5 minutes in 2004
- Approximately 75 seconds in 2012
- About 47 seconds in recent years
Given these trends, long and dense content can be challenging for many readers. To improve comprehension and retention, several strategies can be helpful:
- Breaking content into shorter sections
- Repeating or highlighting key information
- Using clear structure and headings
The Role of Sentence Length and Visuals
Sentence length also plays an important role in comprehension. Research suggests:
- Sentences with 8 words or fewer are understood almost 100% of the time
- Sentences around 14 words maintain about 90% comprehension
- Sentences with 43 words or more drop comprehension to below 10%
However, writing only very short sentences can feel repetitive and dull. A variety of sentence lengths is therefore recommended.
Visual perception is another crucial factor. Including relevant images, diagrams, or visual elements can support understanding and help maintain attention when combined effectively with text.
Conclusion
Understanding what attention is, what affects it, and how it functions in a multidistracting environment is essential—especially for anyone creating educational or informational content. By tailoring content to modern attention limitations, we can make information easier to process, more engaging, and ultimately more effective.
Literature
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attention
https://link.springer.com/rwe/10.1007/978-0-387-79948-3_1267
Stevens' Handbook of Experimental Psychology, Sensation and Perception, 2002. Third edition, page 235.
https://www.apa.org/news/podcasts/speaking-of-psychology/attention-spans
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attention_span
https://medium.com/@scottydocs/what-is-the-perfect-sentence-length-4690ce8d5048
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