Article: Distraction

Distraction is also a television game show: Distraction (game show)

Distraction is the process of diverting the attention of an individual (or group) from one subject to something else. There can be a number of causes for distraction, including random surfing on the Internet, zapping television channels, and random reading. Distraction is a major cause of procrastination.

Physical distraction may occur or be applied through various forces like gravity or magnetism. For example, electromagnetic energy from a cathode ray tube (which composes a television screen) can cause distraction.

Distraction by the Media

The media (television, or reading), can be a source of distraction.

Distraction (or addiction thereto) may lead to a person's neglecting other duty. Sometimes this is referred to as addiction, particularly in more extreme cases. The case of Shawn Woolley was one such case: he became particularly involved in the computer game Everquest and quit his job to dedicate upwards of 12 hours a day to playing the game.

Neil Postman wrote a book—Amusing Ourselves to Death—about how television and newspapers distract us.

Distraction in wildlife, warfare, and crime

• Fake targets
• In open field, mass Military strategy, sometimes a contingent of troops is used to distract the enemy army so their flank is exposed, or to draw them away from a key point or fortification, such as a city.
• Pickpockets and other thieves, especially those working in teams, sometimes apply distraction, such as asking a question, bumping into the victim, or deliberately dirtying the victim's clothing and then "helping" him/her to clean it.

Death by Distraction

• A car accident is often caused by a distracted driver whose attention is diverted from road.

Distraction research

• Research is done on which areas of advertizements test subjects view and how much time subjects spend looking at said areas.
• Dr. Roy Baumeister, a sociologist, once tested subjects' willpower against various distractions and temptations.