Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

How many of the following perceptual activities can be grouped under selective attention?
A. Listening to interesting music from a distance
B. Recognizing the face of a friend in the crowd
C. Looking over a crowded street
D. Focusing on an interesting picture

Correct option is C

Selective attention is the cognitive process of focusing on specific stimuli while ignoring others. It helps individuals concentrate on important information while filtering out distractions.

(A) Listening to interesting music from a distance –
Selective auditory attention allows individuals to focus on one sound (music) while ignoring background noise.
This is an example of the "cocktail party effect," where a person can concentrate on a specific sound in a noisy environment.

(B) Recognizing the face of a friend in the crowd –
This involves visual selective attention, where the brain filters out unnecessary visual information (other faces) and focuses only on the target stimulus (friend’s face).

(D) Focusing on an interesting picture –
This represents voluntary attention, where a person deliberately directs their focus toward a specific visual stimulus while ignoring distractions.

Thus, A, B, and D fall under selective attention.

Information Booster:
Psychologists have identified several stages or types of attention, which can be broadly categorized as follows:
Focused Attention:
Definition: The ability to respond discretely to specific visual, auditory, or tactile stimuli.
Example: Concentrating on a single conversation in a noisy room.
Sustained Attention:
Definition: The capacity to maintain a consistent behavioral response during continuous and repetitive activity.
Example: Reading a book for an extended period without getting distracted.
Selective Attention:
Definition: The ability to focus on a specific stimulus while ignoring other distracting stimuli.
Example: Listening to a friend talk at a loud party.
Alternating Attention:
Definition: The ability to switch focus between tasks that require different cognitive skills.
Example: Alternating between reading a recipe and cooking.
Divided Attention:
Definition: The ability to process two or more responses or react to two or more different demands simultaneously.
Example: Driving a car while talking to a passenger.