Is attention merely a matter of selection?

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Is attention merely a matter of selection?

Attention is "the act of concentration on any one of a set of any subjects or thoughts". (Collins dictionary). Selective attention is "the process by which a person can selectively pick out one message from a mixture of messages occurring simultaneously" (Collins dictionary). As the two definitions suggest, only in the case of selective attention the person selects where to direct his attention. But attention is not always selective; it is often automatic, instinctual, conditioned or biased. This essay rejects the statement that "attention is merely a matter of selection" by looking at several attentional processes in which no selection takes place.

It is structured as follows: First it looks at selective attention. It then examines the role automatic attention plays in divided attention. Following that it will determine the hindering effects that instinctual attention, conditioned attention and attentional biases have on being able to selectively attend to something. Finally it presents disciplines, in which increased control over the capability to use selective attention is sought after. It concludes that although in some situations selective attention is applied, in most situations what people attend to is determined by