Attention span
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
|
Related e |
|
Featured: |
Attention span is the amount of time a person can concentrate on a task without becoming distracted. Most educators and psychologists agree that the ability to focus one's attention on a task is crucial for the achievement of one's goals.
Historical differences
The attention span of humans is apparently much shorter than it used to be. Neil Postman discusses this in his book, Amusing Ourselves to Death. One of his examples is the Lincoln-Douglas debates of 1858. These lasted for hours in front of a sustained audience, whereas modern debates do not approach that length.
The instant gratification made possible by modern technology appears to have had a detrimental effect on attention span. One study of 2600 children found that early exposure to television (around age two) is associated with later attention problems at age seven. Internet browsing may have a similar effect because it enables rapid viewing. Most internet users spend less than one minute on the average website. It may be wise for parents to limit television and internet use in children and encourage them to read books instead. A gradual progression to longer books could be an effective way to develop a healthy attention span.
