What is an example of selective attention?

Selective attention refers to the cognitive process through which a person focuses on a specific stimulus while ignoring other stimuli in the environment. In the context of the given example, when a person intentionally tunes out the sounds of a street crew while participating in a video call, they exhibit selective attention. This behavior demonstrates their ability to prioritize one auditory stimulus (the video call) over other distractions (the noise outside), allowing them to concentrate on the conversation without being affected by the environmental interference.

This capacity to concentrate on a particular aspect of the environment while excluding others is a fundamental characteristic of selective attention, highlighting how individuals can manage their perception and awareness in the presence of competing stimuli.