Wize University Psychology Textbook > Attention & Memory
Divided Attention
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Divided Attention
Divided attention - attending to two or more things at the same time. Each task receives less attention than it would in a single task situation.
Failures of divided attention can occur when unexpected things happen in one task or the other.
Example: When talking on the phone and driving, an unexpected change like a dog wandering out into the street can result in disaster.
Mark Yourself Question
- Grab a piece of paper and try this problem yourself.
- When you're done, check the "I have answered this question" box below.
- View the solution and report whether you got it right or wrong.
Practice: Divided Attention
Your roommate tells you that he is so smart he can study while watching Netflix. What do you tell him?