You are at a party and are listening intensely to a friend tell the "latest gossip," when another person in the room mentions your name in a conversation in a group to the left of where you are standing. According to research on selective attention, you will most likely
A)shift your attention to the person who mentioned your name.
B)not hear your name mentioned since you are intensely listening to your friend's story.
C)not perceive your name being called since this occurred on your left side, not your right side.
D)shift your attention every 30 seconds, regardless of whether your name was called or not.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The phenomenon where you suddenly shift your attention to a conversation where your name is mentioned, even when you are focused on another conversation, is known as the cocktail party effect. This demonstrates our ability to selectively attend to stimuli that are personally relevant amidst a sea of distractions.

You Are at a Party and Are Listening Intensely to a Friend