Attentiveness

"Really look this time." Readers Digest published in their "101 Ways to Improve Your Memory" that there are nine factors required to achieve perfect attention. Note that perfect attentiveness to detail is compromised by even the lack of one factors.

Please click Read More to view the extensive list. 

PERSONAL INTEREST

topic should capture your interest 

INDIVIDUAL'S PERSONALITY

unbiased, objective, and optimistic individuals often succeed

anxious, overwhelmed, and absent-minded individuals often experience difficulty

SATISFACTION

individuals pay more attention to beneficial subjects

MOTIVATION

individuals benefit from positive outcomes of attentiveness

ALERTNESS

"calm, detached alertness" is preferable

CURIOSITY

encourages interest, and therein attention

CONCENTRATION

focus is important, but to a certain extent: 

-----> focusing too closely on particular details may lead individuals astray 

EMOTIONS

positive and negative emotions cause individuals to be more attentive 

-----> e.g. Subject A threatens to take away Subject B's cell phone is Subject B does not listen to class conversations. Subject B then slides phone into his pocket and resumes taking notes. 

SURROUNDINGS

quiet or loud background noises, for example, affect one's ability to concentrate.

-----> e.g. "Get out. I need to go to my mind palace." (Sherlock, The Hounds of Baskerville)