It could be said that visual art is a sort of dance of attention. The artist choreographs a flow of attention. The viewer first sees the whole picture, then the composition pulls attention to a small group. Then attention flows to an individual. Then back to the whole picture. It is the same with architecture: first, the proportions; then the placement of windows and other features; then the whole again; then details of the portico, etc.
Research shows that a face is judged as beautiful if the features are regular, but one feature is exaggerated. Attention takes in the whole regular face, but cannot stop anywhere because of the regularity. Then the exaggerated feature (nose, chin, eyes, brow, etc.) pulls and holds attention.
A striking advertisement pulls and holds attention. This may not be sufficient to deliver a message, but if attention is not attracted in the first place the message will not be heeded at all. Too many advertisers believe that attracting attention is enough. The first step on a journey is necessary, but it is not enough.
Attention may be 'pulled' by something in the environment that has not been planned or planted by anyone. Flowers are coloured to attract the attention of bees and other insects. Flowers attract human attention, even though it does the flowers little good.
SENSITISATION
I have written elsewhere about the sensitisation of attention. You are in a plane coming in to land. The plane flies low over airport car parks. you 'instruct' your attention to pick out yellow cars. Suddenly yellow cars 'pop out' of the car park. Even yellow cars parked in side streets become visible. Attention seems to have responded to the instructions.
That attention should respond to instructions is hardly surprising. A new sound disturbs a grazing animal. The possibility of a predator comes into the animal's mind. The different possibilities are sensitised. The animal is now in a better position to pick out the predator. Readiness to perceive is an obvious asset. Such readiness speeds up recognition and makes recognition more powerful.
SUB-THRESHOLD
In neurological terms, it means that an input is made to certain neuronal clusters, which makes it easier for such clusters to be activated. This sub-threshold activation is a key part of the powerful behaviour of the human mind.
This is the background basis for the attention-directing tools of the CoRT thinking programme, which is so widely used in schools around the world. For example, the OPV tool (Other People's Views) directs attention to the possible views of other people. This is also the basis of the new DATT Thinking Programme for business (contact Kathy Myers, fax USA, 1 515 278 2245).
The Six Hats framework for thinking also depends on this sensitisation or deliberate attention-directing. When the yellow hat is in use, the mind is sensitised to noticing values and benefits. Often there are big surprises. Values which have not been noticed before suddenly 'pop up' like the yellow cars in the car park.
Because the mind cannot be sensitised in all directions at the same time there is value in the separation of thinking into defined models each of which is symbolised by one of the Six Hats: Black for disadvantages and dangers, Yellow for benefits, White for information, Green for creativity, Blue for organising the thought process, and Red for feeling.
We sometimes think that if something is 'there', then surely we will notice it. But experiments show that we easily miss what is right before us, unless our attention is specifically drawn to that thing. Potential vision is not the same as actual vision.
There are claims that under hypnosis subjects can be made to 'see' things that were actually present, but which were never noticed. The practical importance of this is not clear. It may be that matters which were not consciously noticed can still affect our feelings and behaviour. In general, however, we respond to things that we have indeed noticed. Sub-conscious influences may be at work, but there is no control over them.
VALUE SENSITIVITY
I have often stressed the importance of developing a 'sensitivity' to value. Without such a sensitivity creativity is only half effective. There is not much point in generating new ideas if you cannot see the value in those ideas. I have often sat in creative sessions where excellent ideas were generated, but no one present seemed to notice the value of the ideas. What a waste.
A simple attention-directing framework can help in identifying values. Who are the parties involved? How does the idea benefit each party? What are the immediate effects, and the later effects? Under what circumstances would there be benefits? What might be the benefits of the reaction to the proposal?
In an experiment with 250 senior public servants, the group asked to use the yellow and black hats deliberately, compared with those who simply used their 'natural' judgment, noticed three times as many benefits and dangers in a suggestion. In general, our natural thinking habits are very limited. Attention just flows according to routine patterns.
In Petra, in Jordan, the 'Daughter Palace' is a large free-standing structure built by the Nabateans. Very few people notice that it has no windows. Perhaps this was for defence purposes. Perhaps it was to protect against desert sandstorms. Perhaps the Nabateans who carved all other structures out of the cliffs forgot about windows, because caves never have windows. Perhaps they never developed the technology of windows and glass. It is obvious that caves generally do not have windows, but you do have to notice this in order to think about it.
The flowscapes of 'water logic' provide a method for mapping the subjective flow of attention (see the book Water Logic, Penguin Books). Attention often flows in circular patterns, revisiting the same concepts over and over again. Many people using flowscapes have told me how these have given them insight into their own attention flows.
DIRECTING ATTENTION
Check-lists are a formal way of directing attention when the natural flow of attention might leave out certain vital matters. A pilot's pre-flight check-list makes sure that all matters are covered.
Mathematics is also an elaborate form of attention-directing. We pay attention to one step at a time and eventually have the overall result. The specific attention-directing tools of the Six Hats method, CoRT Thinking and the DATT thinking programme have already been mentioned.
Obviously there are some attention-directing habits that become internalised. When something unusual happens, we 'look' for the cause of the explanation. When there is a change, we 'look' for the consequences of that change. When a course of action is suggested, we 'look' for alternative courses of action. It is also possible, but very unusual, to develop a 'challenge' habit: when something is mentioned as the normal or usual approach, we 'look' for other approaches.
LOGIC BUBBLE
When someone does something we do not like we could direct attention to that person's 'logic bubble'. This refers to that bubble of perceptions and values within which an individual acts logically. This was an idea I suggested many years ago in one of my books. Many people have told me that the simple concept has made them much more tolerant of others. The logic bubble concept is more powerful than just asking people to focus on the reasons behind the action. It is asking people to consider why the behaviour may indeed be inevitable and justified for that person.
The very existence of a word, a phrase or a concept allows us to direct attention. At the same time, the existence of some well-established concept prevents us directing attention as we wish. For example, the existence of 'conflict' and 'peace' creates an either/or situation and prevents us directing attention to the many concepts in between. As is so often the case, language is both a help and a hindrance in thinking.
DIFFERENCES
We always assume that everyone is looking at the same part of the situation. When a new idea is suggested, it is natural to suppose that everyone will be attending to the proposed benefits. In practice, many people would actually be attending to the cost, to the hassle and to the threat to their own position. That is another reason why the Six Hats framework is becoming so popular. There is an alignment of attention.
FOCUS
Any question is simply a request that a person 'directs his or her attention' to a certain matter. 'Direct your attention to the time'... 'Direct your attention to your name'... 'Direct attention to your feelings about this matter'. These could replace the questions: 'What is the time?'... 'What is your name?'... 'How do you feel about this?'
SUMMARY
We take so much for granted about methods, frames and tools for directing attention that we rarely direct attention to these methods themselves. Yet much of thinking is simply a matter of directing attention in a specific way, instead of letting attention flow along its own path, and instead of allowing attention to be pulled one way or another by circumstances or by someone else's design.
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