This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site, while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Cookie settings
  1. KudoZ™ Top
  2. English
  3. Psychology

attention addiction

English translation: related but not synonymous meanings

17:58 Mar 26, 2023
English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Social Sciences - Psychology
English term or phrase: attention addiction
Dear colleagues,
I’m not sure about the meaning of “attention addiction” in the passages below.
Initially, I interpreted it as meaning: “being addicted to receiving attention from other people". However, the author also talks about “attention-addictive digital devices and platforms”, and he does so in virtually the same context (when he refers to the pandemics of modern times).
So maybe, “attention addiction” should be understood as “attention being compulsively attracted to digital devices”?
What’s your opinion? Are they two different meanings of “attention addiction” or just one?
Thank you so much for your help!

***************
A fifth pandemic is of attention addiction, the draw of our attentional focus toward compelling states of endless comparison and competition and the ensuing feeling of inadequacy, inferiority, and incompleteness.

***************************

The pandemic of attention-addiction draws us to focus on digital distractions that keep us disconnected in our relational lives

*************************


In adolescence, a new awareness of the major pandemics confronting us may emerge – the challenges of a virus, of social injustice, of polarization, of *** attention-addiction ***, and of environmental destruction – and we can come to feel inspired to make a difference or overwhelmed and driven to avoid such knowledge

*****

As we look back at modern human culture over the last century – from the first reports of the impact of carbon emissions on our natural world to the civil rights movement in the 1960s and the efforts to shed light on social injustice to the increase in polarization and misinformation to the more recent invention of *** attention-addictive digital devices and platforms *** – we might come to see a similar parallel of denial within the 3-P diagram for our contemporary human family.
haribert
Local time: 20:27
Selected answer:related but not synonymous meanings
Explanation:
Just a run through....
Some of these are actually defined:
1."A fifth pandemic is of attention addiction, the draw of our attentional focus toward compelling states of endless comparison and competition ...."

= we feel constantly compelled to compare ourselves with others and compete with them, and this leaves us with a "feeling of inadequacy, inferiority, and incompleteness"
=comparing and competing has become an addiction for us, and the consequences can be nasty (for some this could be "attention-seeking" but not necessarily as there are many who are "fans" rather than seeking glory for themselves)
***************************

2. "The pandemic of attention-addiction draws us to focus on digital distractions that keep us disconnected in our relational lives "
= our attention is constantly drawn to "digital distractions" hence, by being so distracted we lose our connections in terms of our relationships
=we are addicted to digital distractions and thus not focusing on our relationships
*************************


3. "In adolescence, a new awareness of the major pandemics confronting us may emerge – the challenges of [...], of *** attention-addiction ***, and of environmental destruction..."
=become aware of the major pandemics in adolescence, including that of "attention-addiction",
recognising that our attention is constantly being drawn elsewhere. So, we may decide to focus our attention on these problems or be "overwhelmed" and "...avoid such knowledge" instead
*****

4. "As we look back at modern human culture over the last century [...] to the more recent invention of *** attention-addictive digital devices and platforms"
= addictive digital devices and platforms (constantly absorb our attention)

Of course, with addictive digital devices and platforms and social media absorbing our attention there is even more likelihood that our attention to the other matters is also magnified.
Obviously, we can compare ourselves even more readily with the aid of addictive digital media! And compete more as everything is at our fingertips.(1) thus losing even more focus and connections in our relational lives (2)

These addictive devices also mean our attention is drawn to the major "pandemics" in the world and we can choose to get involved or try to ignore them if we are overwhelmed (3) and also means we have our attention drawn to these devices in an addictive way. Information constantly being spewed at us but perhaps causing an "increase in polarization and misinformation" like in the past and denial.

Yes, we can use these devices, if so inclined, to draw other people's attention to us. But I think the main idea is that WE can't seem to focus as our attention is being drawn in different directions all the time. Information overload. We are addicted to the addictive devices

So, I think there is a difference in meaning

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 days 5 hrs (2023-03-28 23:38:23 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Hi Haribert, I honestly don't see WHY you see this as "receiving attention" when it clearly states (as I highlighted above) the DRAW OF [,,,] FOCUS TOWARD....
Not really about "receiving" (or seeking) attention but rather giving it or having it drawn from us

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 4 days (2023-03-30 22:06:16 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------

Glad to have helped.
Selected response from:

Yvonne Gallagher
Ireland
Local time: 19:27
Grading comment
Thank you so much, Yvonne, for your help as well as for your patience! Many thanks also to all other colleagues!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
4 +1related but not synonymous meanings
Yvonne Gallagher
3Attention seeking
Mihaela C N Plamadeala


Discussion entries: 9





  

Answers


3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
Attention seeking


Explanation:
Obviously, "attention-addictive digital devices", means people become addicted to them, as Phil pointed out.

The attention addiction refers to people seeking constant attention and validation through social media.

Mihaela C N Plamadeala
United Kingdom
Local time: 19:27
Native speaker of: Native in RomanianRomanian
Notes to answerer
Asker: thank you so much, Mihaeal, for your help!

Asker: Sorry for mispelling your name, Mihaela!

Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

2 days 14 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
related but not synonymous meanings


Explanation:
Just a run through....
Some of these are actually defined:
1."A fifth pandemic is of attention addiction, the draw of our attentional focus toward compelling states of endless comparison and competition ...."

= we feel constantly compelled to compare ourselves with others and compete with them, and this leaves us with a "feeling of inadequacy, inferiority, and incompleteness"
=comparing and competing has become an addiction for us, and the consequences can be nasty (for some this could be "attention-seeking" but not necessarily as there are many who are "fans" rather than seeking glory for themselves)
***************************

2. "The pandemic of attention-addiction draws us to focus on digital distractions that keep us disconnected in our relational lives "
= our attention is constantly drawn to "digital distractions" hence, by being so distracted we lose our connections in terms of our relationships
=we are addicted to digital distractions and thus not focusing on our relationships
*************************


3. "In adolescence, a new awareness of the major pandemics confronting us may emerge – the challenges of [...], of *** attention-addiction ***, and of environmental destruction..."
=become aware of the major pandemics in adolescence, including that of "attention-addiction",
recognising that our attention is constantly being drawn elsewhere. So, we may decide to focus our attention on these problems or be "overwhelmed" and "...avoid such knowledge" instead
*****

4. "As we look back at modern human culture over the last century [...] to the more recent invention of *** attention-addictive digital devices and platforms"
= addictive digital devices and platforms (constantly absorb our attention)

Of course, with addictive digital devices and platforms and social media absorbing our attention there is even more likelihood that our attention to the other matters is also magnified.
Obviously, we can compare ourselves even more readily with the aid of addictive digital media! And compete more as everything is at our fingertips.(1) thus losing even more focus and connections in our relational lives (2)

These addictive devices also mean our attention is drawn to the major "pandemics" in the world and we can choose to get involved or try to ignore them if we are overwhelmed (3) and also means we have our attention drawn to these devices in an addictive way. Information constantly being spewed at us but perhaps causing an "increase in polarization and misinformation" like in the past and denial.

Yes, we can use these devices, if so inclined, to draw other people's attention to us. But I think the main idea is that WE can't seem to focus as our attention is being drawn in different directions all the time. Information overload. We are addicted to the addictive devices

So, I think there is a difference in meaning

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 days 5 hrs (2023-03-28 23:38:23 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Hi Haribert, I honestly don't see WHY you see this as "receiving attention" when it clearly states (as I highlighted above) the DRAW OF [,,,] FOCUS TOWARD....
Not really about "receiving" (or seeking) attention but rather giving it or having it drawn from us

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 4 days (2023-03-30 22:06:16 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------

Glad to have helped.

Yvonne Gallagher
Ireland
Local time: 19:27
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 65
Grading comment
Thank you so much, Yvonne, for your help as well as for your patience! Many thanks also to all other colleagues!
Notes to answerer
Asker: Dear Yvonne, thank you so much for your contribution! I'll think about it, although I still am not sure about how to rephrase "attention addiction" in the first instances... if it is not "addiction to receiving attention", maybe it is "addiction to focusing attention to (compelling states...etc..)

Asker: Dear Yvonne, thanks for your time. I'll answer in the Discussion...


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Anastasia Kalantzi
1 day 2 hrs
  -> Many thanks:-)
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

Return to KudoZ list

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.

See also:
ProZ.com term search
Search millions of term translations
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search