Expectant Attention
Prolonged expectancy is a great aid to holding the attention. The element of curiosity is a great impelling force in the child and even in adult life. This can be taken advantage of in prolonging the attention.
The element of expectancy also affects the results of attention. The thing you expect is the thing most easily found. If you wish to aid a friend who is searching for a lost article you first learn as nearly as possible just what it looks like, so that you may know what you are expected to find.
Exercise.—In the following lines count all the 5s.
5 0 3 4 2 6 5 7 4 6 7 8 9 8 0 7 6 8 7 5 4 3 5 7 6 5 4 3 7
9 3 7 5 8 4 3 2 6 5 7 3 7 4 5 9 6 8 7 0 2 3 4 2 6 5 8 3 4 9 8 5 6 7 2 2 3 0 9 8 6 5 7 4
Notice how readily the other digits pass before your eyes in more or less indistinct rows, but the 5s stand out more clearly. This is caused by your expectancy, your attention is fixed upon this one digit and cares nothing for others. Count the 9s and note the change of expectancy. Use any selected letter in this paragraph for additional practice.