The ability to focus on specific stimuli while ignoring others is known as what?

Selective attention is a cognitive process that allows individuals to focus on particular stimuli while disregarding others that may be distracting. This skill is crucial in environments where multiple stimuli compete for our awareness. For example, when someone is at a crowded party and can effectively engage in a conversation with one person while ignoring background noise, they are demonstrating selective attention.

This concept is fundamental in cognitive psychology because it sheds light on how we process information and manage our cognitive resources. Selective attention involves filtering out irrelevant information, which enables better performance on tasks that require concentration and cognitive effort. It plays a critical role in everyday activities, such as reading, listening to music, or even driving, where one must prioritize certain sensory inputs over others to function effectively in complex environments.