What is "attentional bias"?

Attentional bias refers to the systematic distortion in how we perceive information, which is often influenced by our thoughts, beliefs, or feelings. It occurs when certain recurring thoughts or emotions make particular stimuli more noticeable and impactful, altering how we process information in our environment. For instance, if someone is anxious, they might focus more on threatening cues in their surroundings, while ignoring neutral or positive stimuli. This bias affects perception by filtering incoming information based on these thoughts, highlighting the influence of our mental state on attention.

The other options present different concepts related to attention and focus. Focusing on a single stimulus pertains to selective attention, which does not encompass the broader influence of thoughts and feelings. Overlooking distractions involves attention management but does not capture the idea of thought interference. Lastly, prioritizing multiple tasks implies divided attention rather than the focus shaped by recurrent thoughts, which is the essence of attentional bias.