Attention

This article, part of a series exploring Iain McGilchrist's book The Matter With Things, delves into the concept of attention and how it is managed by the brain's hemispheres. It emphasizes the significant differences in how the left and right hemispheres perceive and interact with the world. The right hemisphere is characterized as having a broader and more sustained attention span, which is essential for maintaining a holistic view of reality. In contrast, the left hemisphere focuses on narrower, more immediate details and can become fixated or disconnected from the larger context. The article discusses the profound effects of hemisphere imbalances, such as those resulting from strokes, and how these imbalances can lead to psychopathological conditions. It also highlights the contemporary Western world's tendency to prioritize left-hemisphere modes of thinking, which may contribute to a fragmented and decontextualized perception of reality. The article concludes with a call for psychotherapists to foster right-brain engagement in their clients to counteract this imbalance.

  • Understand the distinct roles of the brain's left and right hemispheres in managing attention and perception.

  • Explore the implications of hemisphere imbalances, particularly the effects of right hemisphere damage.

  • Analyze how the right hemisphere's broader attentional capacity is crucial for holistic perception and sustained attention.

  • Examine the impact of left-hemisphere dominance in contemporary Western society on individual and collective consciousness.

  • Investigate the psychopathological conditions associated with left and right hemisphere dysfunctions.

  • Apply the insights from McGilchrist's work to therapeutic practices, emphasizing the importance of right-brain-to-right-brain attunement in psychotherapy.

Become a Member