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Distraction is also a television game show: Distraction (game show)

Distraction is the diverting of the attention of an individual or group from the chosen object of attention onto the source of distraction. Distraction is caused by one of the following: lack of ability to pay attention; lack of interest in the object of attention; greater interest in something other than the object of attention; or the great intensity, novelness or attractiveness of the source of distraction. Distractions come from both external sources (physical stimulus through the five senses) or internal sources (thought, emotion, daydreams, sex drive, etc.) Divided attention is also defined as distraction in situations requiring full attention on a single object (sports, academic tests, performance, etc.) A handful of interruptions may or may not be considered distractions, because their value or importance is greater than the object of attention; such as a welcomed phone call, creative inspiration, or a medical emergency. Distraction is a major cause of procrastination. Image File history File links Broom_icon. ... Distraction is a British game show shown on Channel 4. ... Procrastination is the deferment or avoidance of an action or task and is often linked to perfectionism. ...

Physical distraction may occur or be applied through various forces like gravity or magnetism. For example, electromagnetic energy from a cathode ray tube (which composes a television screen) can cause distraction. Gravity is a force of attraction that acts between bodies that have mass. ... Magnetic lines of force of a bar magnet shown by iron filings on paper In physics, magnetism is one of the phenomena by which materials exert an attractive or repulsive force on other materials. ... Cathode ray tube employing electromagnetic focus and deflection Cutaway rendering of a color CRT Electron guns Electron beams Focusing coils Deflection coils Anode connection Mask for separating beams for red, green, and blue part of displayed image Phosphor layer with red, green, and blue zones Close-up of the phosphor...

Distraction by the Media

The media (television, or reading), can be a source of distraction.

Distraction (or addiction thereto) may lead to a person's neglecting other duties. Sometimes this is referred to as addiction, particularly in more extreme cases. The case of Shawn Woolley was one such case; he became particularly involved in the computer game Everquest and quit his job to dedicate up to 12 hours a day playing the game. Addiction is a chronic or recurrent condition proposed to be precipitated by one or more of the following: genetic, biological/pharmacological and social factors. ... Shawn Woolley (1980 - 22 November 2001) was an avid player of the computer game EverQuest, an MMORPG, who committed suicide at the age of 21 years old. ... A computer game is a game composed of a computer-controlled virtual universe that players interact with in order to achieve a defined goal or set of goals. ... EverQuest (EQ) is a 3d fantasy massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) that was released on March 16, 1999. ...

Neil Postman wrote a book—Amusing Ourselves to Death—about how television and newspapers distract us. Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business (1985), is a controversial book by Neil Postman in which he argued that mediums of communication inherently influence the conversations carried out over them, that television is the primary means of communication for our culture, that television has...

Distraction in wildlife, warfare, and crime

• Fake targets
• streakers
• In open field with mass military strategy, sometimes a contingent of troops is used to distract the enemy army so their flank is exposed, or to draw them away from a key point or fortification, such as a city.
• Pickpockets and other thieves, especially those working in teams, sometimes apply distraction, such as asking a question, bumping into the victim, or deliberately dirtying the victim's clothing and then "helping" him/her to clean it.

Pickpocketing is a crime, a form of larceny which involves the stealing of money and valuables off the person of a victim without them noticing. ...

Death by Distraction

• Car accidents are often caused by a distracted driver whose attention is diverted from the road.

Distraction research

• Research was conducted regarding specific areas of advertisements which tested subjects viewed, and how much time those subjects spend looking at said areas.
• Dr. Roy Baumeister, a sociologist, once tested subjects' willpower against various distractions and temptations.

External links

• Coping with distraction

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Look up distraction in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.