Day 13: Distraction

          Today we discuss distraction. But to understand this, we first must briefly talk about attention.  I really want to focus on Williams ides of “directional focus”. Paying attention requires focus, yes, we know that, and we are all paying attention to SOMETHING 100% on the time. It may not be the task at hand, but nevertheless, it is paying attention. “Generally speaking, though, when we use the term “attention” in day-to-day parlance, we typically mean what cognitive scientists call the “spotlight” of attention, or the direction of our moment-to-moment awareness within the immediate task domain.” (Williams 44-45). This spotlight attention is “what helps us do what we want to do” (Williams 45). Focusing on the immediate task at hand is where that spotlight is shining. But with this comes the momentary bouts of distraction. With these distractions, we must dive deeper into our attentions.

            The term “pay attention” comes from the things we must pay for while we are focused on something else. Like in economics, there is the opportunity cost of everything you do. You choose to go out for the night instead of studying for your test, your cost is your grade. Taking Williams example of the human will, we all have choices to make about what we choose to pay our attention to. Here is a list of the different “lights” examples he uses to demonstrate the direction of attention.

“The “Spotlight” Our immediate capacities for navigating awareness and

action toward tasks. Enables us to do what we want to do.

The “Starlight” Our broader capacities for navigating life “by the stars”

of our higher goals and values. Enables us to be who we want to be.

The “Daylight” Our fundamental capacities – such as reflection,

metacognition, reason, and intelligence – that enable us to define our

goals and values to begin with. Enables us to “want what we want

to want.”” (Williams 49).

Now, think about what would happen if theses lights were shining somewhere else, or a huge hawk flew in front of one. We would get distracted.

            Functional distractions are those that tear our attention away from what is right in front of us. Like currently, it is taking me FOREVER to write this blog post because there are SO many things distracting me; phone, puppy, window, laundry, to-do list, chocolate, tiny purple pigs. “This is the sort of distraction that Huxley called the “mere casual waste products of psychophysiological activity.”” (Williams 50) and the time we spent immediately functionally distracted is not the total time distracted. It takes the average adult 23 minutes to refocus after a distraction has occurred. Another type of distraction is strategic distraction. This kind of distraction is put in place by others on purpose. I always like to think about the show “Brain Games”. If you have ever seen this show, then you know about the distractions they set in place so you don’t notice the guy in the monkey suit walk across the screen. This is similar in the “real world”. The idea is to “drown out the offending information with a torrent of other social media content that directs people’s attention away from the objectionable material.” (Williams 52).

            When distractions seem to be overwhelming our lives, we begin to feel no motivation and we begin to suffer on work ethic and in our daily routines. People comment on this and we get defensive. And this causes us to think about all of the things that we are not. I am sure we have all been there. “When we lose the story of our identities, whether on individual or collective levels, it undermines what we could call the “starlight” of our attention, or our ability to navigate “by the stars” of our higher values or “being goals.”” (Williams 56). This kind of distraction makes it difficult to be who we want to be. The “existential distraction”. We find ourselves finding meaning through online distractions. This is a furthering of the level of distractions we face with technology.

            The thing that allows us to do any of these things and actually accomplish the goals we set is known as the daylight focus. This is the most important spotlight of attention. “When our daylight is compromised, epistemic distraction results. Epistemic distraction is the diminishment of underlying capacities that enable a person to define or pursue their goals: capacities essential for democracy such as reflection, memory, prediction, leisure, reasoning, and goal-setting.” (Williams 68). This kind of distraction is bad for our wellbeing. It can effect everything about ourselves and lead to health problems. Mental health, I would say, like depression and anxiety, can be a contributor. It is important to remember that distraction stems from loss of directional attention.