There are several types of attention. Each of them has its own causes and forms of manifestation. Two different types of attention should be considered separately - involuntary and arbitrary. If the latter arises due to the intention of a person only after he exerts at least a minimal effort of will, then involuntary attention appears without the participation of the intention of the individual. By what the person pays attention to, one can judge the character and mental state.
Arbitrary attention is inherent only to man. This feature allows us to distinguish people from animals (since they also have involuntary attention). It arose as a result of activities controlled by consciousness. In order to achieve something, a person must do not only what he likes, but also what is necessary for the cause. In the process of theoretical training and consolidation of knowledge in practice, arbitrary attention is formed.
From a physiological point of view, it occurs in the cerebral cortex, where the focus of greatest excitation is supported by impulses directed from the second signaling system. The influence of the labor process on the formation of this type of attention has developed historically. After all, no activity is possible without conscious control of one’s own attention.
Arbitrary attention is also distinguished by some psychological features. It is accompanied by tension, volitional effort of varying degrees. The longer voluntary attention is held, the stronger the stress can be, up to physical fatigue. To prevent this, one should either alternate forced hard exercises with light and interesting ones, or interest a person so that he can maintain a concentration of attention for a long time .
First, a person makes a voluntary effort, delves into the content of what he is studying, and later on he is able to follow the subject under study without such stress. This is how post-arbitrary attention appears, arising after arbitrary. In some sources it is called secondarily arbitrary. With his appearance, the learning process is greatly facilitated, fatigue may not be.
Types of attention are also distinguished depending on where it is directed. If on the objects of the external, material world - externally directed attention, but on feelings, thoughts, memories - internally directed. The latter may be involuntary in the case when, during the execution of the main work, a person is distracted by thoughts of something else, by memories. Often this is the cause of inattention. Arbitrary attention, on the contrary, selects from what is happening only that which directly relates to the sphere of human interests.
Involuntary attention absolutely does not require the participation of the will, because you do not need to focus on one thing for a long time. But for arbitrary attention, it is simply necessary. It necessarily connects volitional regulation. As a rule, this type of attention is associated with the presence of several interests, often competing with each other, with the struggle of several motives for action. In this case, a person consciously chooses one goal, one interest for satisfaction and shows a will to suppress others.
It is clear that favorable working conditions help to concentrate and achieve good results. However, here each person must develop an individual mode and rhythm of work, while adhering to the golden mean, since neither excessive noise, nor absolute silence contribute to the effective performance of the work.
In any activity done consciously, different types of attention are intertwined.