Activity 4.5 (Open Post)

           In Chapter 11 on Attention (Pg. 56) James talks about the different types of attention that people possess, depending on their field of consciousness. Some can be “highly focalized and concentrated” on a task or thought, while others may find their attention being distracted often, pulling in various directions. James goes on to say that “others sink into a subject of meditation deeply, and when interrupted, are ‘lost’ for a moment before they come back to the outer world” (pg. 57), which is a connection I found between James and a study presented in the article The Myths of Multitasking. Rosen states that in “one study by researchers at the University of California at Irvine monitored interruptions among office workers; they found that workers took an average of twenty-five minutes to recover from interruptions such as phone calls or answer­ing e-mail and return to their original task” (Pg. 2).It seems to be that the distraction is more than a mere moment, but several minutes before some people can find their way back to a primary task.

           One area within the world of communication that I am a big advocate for is active listening, being in the moment. It’s a difficult skill to work at and often people find themselves distracted by other things outside of the present conversation. Rosen mentions research that reflects a negative light on using phones and accessing the Internet as often as we do, so we don’t miss out on anything. This is one example of a main distraction that people allow themselves to get wrapped up in or too focused on. I would say my main battle in the classroom is the telephone. Going a whole hour without texting someone, checking Facebook or email is viewed as a travesty. This article, and James, reinforce that the distractions from one train of thought to another can be a hindrance to being an active listener.

           This excerpt from a book does a good job of conveying my connection and intention. “Mindful listening is one of the highest compliments we can pay to others because it conveys the relationship-level meaning that they matter to us. Being mindful requires discipline and commitment. We have to discipline our tendencies to judge others, to dominate the talk stage, and to let our minds wander” (Wood, 2012).

On page 5 Rosen spends a section discussing James’ perspective on attention and how a hundred years later it’s more familiar than foreign. I wonder if mastering reign over one’s own attention is a skill, a habit, or both? Maybe it’s a skill to master, but a habit to maintain?

 

Reference:

James, W. (2001). Talks to teachers on psychology and to students on some of life's ideals. Mineola,                NY: Dover. (Original work published 1899).

Woods, Julia T. (2012) “Interpersonal Communication: Everyday Encounters.” 7^th Ed. Boston:                          Wadsworth Cengage Learning.