Deep and Hyper Attention – AKA: I don’t know how to think

This week’s reading discussed the difference between deep and hyper attention, and the need to approach a new way of learning with a new way of teaching. This is particularly true in a more technologically diverse environment, where the mind is open to a much wider variety of stimulus. After some careful thinking, I wanted to look at how I engage with different kinds of material, and my approach to the media and society in general. There are also times that one type of attention is more appropriate than the other.

Social situations seem to be more heavily weighted towards hyper attention in large groups, as it means I can absorb information from many different conversations at once. Hyper attention also means a person can more quickly absorb information from a wider range of sources, an obvious example being how one may browse the internet. The reading also discussed the interaction of young minds with video games, with those who prefer hyper attention more likely to play games for extended periods. This is in true for me, as there are many different aspects to these games which create a diverse and individual experience whilst playing. The level of interaction, social experience when playing online or co-op and the unpredictability of these games make them more engaging for extended sessions, and deep attention may detract from the overall experience of this.

Deep and hyper attention do not need to be so heavily separated though, and I find that they can work together in unpredictable ways sometimes. For example, I find that I need to have some form of outside stimulus that is not too disruptive (generally soft music) in order to make me focus more deeply when studying or writing. Having something which I can zone out, or ignore, creates a more efficient work environment for me. This overlap between the two, where both must be present to benefit more from one, is interesting to think about. There can be a grey area in between deep and hyper attention.

That being said, there are times where this overlap simply does not exist, and there really is only way of responding. I feel that I cannot achieve deep attention in some cases due to any kind of outside focus. To get full enjoyment out of a film, I must be completely and wholly engaged. However,  I find this extremely difficult to do so when certain factors are present, such as glare from the screen, family members using their mobile phones or having the film interrupted for some reason. Deep attention adds to my enjoyment and engagement in situations like this, whereas hyper attention detracts from the experience.

Deep and hyper attention both have their purposes in modern civilisation, yet it is up to the individual to find their own unique needs for working, enjoyment and socialising.