How can a listener resist distraction?

Answer 1

This question can go in a few different directions. If you are talking about listening to a speaker and resisting ordinary distractions that will inevitably be present, the trick is NOT to concentrate on resisting the distractions; this moves you to attend to the distractions, which is what you are trying not to do. Focus on attending to the speaker, and let the distractions pass. As you become aware that your focus has shifted, simply bring it back to where you want it, without punishing yourself. Try neither to attend to the distractions, nor to resist them. Becoming annoyed by an ordinary distraction is the same as focusing more on the distraction than to the thing of interest.

Some people deal with attention deficit disorders and these can show themselves in different ways. Practice and counseling can help. There are various biofeedback interventions with which many have success. Sometimes medications are useful.

There are methods of meditation where allowing any and every distraction of ambient sound to enter and then be gently released from the mind can actually be an effective method for entering a meditative state.

Some individuals have serious neuropsychological problems that affect the brain's ability to filter out irrelevant or distracting stimulation. In social settings, most of us can have a comfortable conversation with someone, even though many other conversations are going on nearby. People dealing with these disorders cannot filter out those other conversations, and their attention is drawn as much to each of them as to the conversation they are trying to have. This is an extremely painful and difficult condition to deal with, and professional help should be sought. Start with your PCP and then follow her/his leads with referrals.