‘Many of us are not optimally
using our concentration span’
Annie Brookman-Byrne asked Professor Stefan Van der Stigchel about his new book
Concentration: Staying Focused in Times of Distraction (MIT Press).
To ask you the question you pose in Chapter 1, why is it
difficult to concentrate? Are we in a ‘time of distraction’ or
has it always been hard?
In a way, concentration has always been difficult. In order
to focus on one task for a longer period of time, you need
to ignore both distractions from the outside world and
internal distractions. The internal distractors consist
of mind wandering, for instance. I think that everyone
can relate to the fact that it is very easy for your mind
to start wandering when you are focusing on a specific
task. One lapse of concentration and you are thinking
about your favourite friend or some childhood memory.
With respect to external distractions, one could argue
that concentration has become more difficult. With more
information available than ever, most of the time within
reach via your mobile phone, we surround ourselves with
notifications, pop-up screens and flashing billboards with
commercials. Although evolution is not so quick that our
brains are differently wired at birth than, say, 200 years
ago, our surroundings has changed. The good news
is that we can control our environment, so if you have
problems concentrating, there are many solutions.
I’ve heard people worry about the fact that they can’t
concentrate on their work for very long without needing a
break – reading the news or checking social media. Is this
really something to worry about or is it normal to need a
short break every so often?
Because concentration is intrinsically difficult, it’s normal
68 for the brain to lose focus. When you notice that your
the psychologist september 2020 books
focus decreases, it’s time to take a break in order to
charge the battery. It’s important to take the right type
of break, however: try to minimise checking social
media or other things that heavily tax your attention.
The best break is to go outside and take a walk in a
quiet park, or any other environment that doesn’t
require a heavy load on your attention. Science is
clear in showing that you focus better after a break in
which the concentration network in your brain was not
involved, compared to a period of devoting yourself to
an attention demanding task.
Is multi-tasking always a bad idea for concentration?
No, definitely not. When you have young kids and
need to prepare dinner, it’s a good idea to check your
kids while cooking. Yes, your dinner might be finished
later, but your kids will hopefully be safe. Multitasking
is generally fine, except when your work requires a
longer period of concentration. If you are trying to
do multiple things at the same time, you are actually
switching between tasks. This results in time costs,
more errors, but also in higher stress levels.
In the book you address the myth that our attention
spans have become shorter than those of goldfish.
Is there any truth in the common assumption that our
attention spans are decreasing?
No, there is no scientific evidence that our attention
spans are decreasing. When you look at the origin of all
the myths, especially about the goldfish, we can easily
classify them as ‘fake news’. That doesn’t mean it’s not
the case, however; we simply don’t know. There is no
solid scientific study that focuses on the development
of our attention span across generations. We do
know that many of us are not optimally using our
concentration span, with unnecessary multitasking;
from my room at the university I can see the students
studying with their phone inbetween themselves and
the keyboard, checking their phone every time they
have finished writing or reading a sentence. That is not
an optimal strategy to study efficiently. Furthermore,
many employees are working in open office spaces that
are notoriously bad for our concentration.
What solutions for improved concentration do you
recommend for the ‘sender’ of information and the
‘receiver’ of information?
Read my book, of course! There are many solutions
based on solid scientific data, such as daily routines,
meditation, concentration rituals, technology breaks,
but they require knowledge about the underlying
mechanisms of how concentration works in the brain.
It’s not rocket science, so everyone can learn the tricks
of efficient concentration by studying the attentional
processes in the brain.
Concentration: Staying Focused in Times of Distraction
by Professor Stefan Van der Stigchel (MIT Press)
is out now.
Addiction cuts across geography,
economy, ethnicity and gender with
little variation. In Never Enough,
Judith Grisel considers why some
people are spared addiction while
others are unable to escape its grasp.
It is enlightening to gain insight
into Grisel’s own experience
with addiction and the various
interlocking contributing factors.
She writes about a persistent sense
of needing to escape reality, issues
surrounding self-acceptance and
lacking a sense of purpose – all of
which contributed to her substance
use. An overwhelming feeling of
not achieving anything substantial
or quickly enough, parallel to a
sense of confusion that ‘unaddicted’
individuals were happy to ‘fritter
away’ their lives taking part in
meaningless activities such as
watching the news and planning
parties, all played a role.
These insights led me to reflect
on the potential importance of
mindfulness to encourage focusing
on the here and now, and strengthbased therapy for addiction.
Strength-based therapy supports
an individual to perceive their
strengths as resourceful and resilient
when in adverse conditions. This
approach is client led and focuses
on an individual’s goal and how their
positive characteristics can support
them to achieve this goal. In short,
strength-based therapy may allow
an individual to regain a sense of
purpose, capability and achievement.
Feelings of guilt and shame
and a yearning for approval, love
and support are recurring themes
in the book. Support networks
are important. Support should be
person-centred, not overbearing,
and given in a way that is wanted.
Drugs are often sought as an external
fix to suffering. But drugs are an
unsustainable solution to the pains
of living we all feel at some point or
another due to a variety of reasons.
The balance of certainty and safety
but also excitement and development
is difficult to achieve.
Despite alcohol initially offering
an escape, Grisel refers to the brain’s
infinite ability to learn and adapt. She
explains the inevitable ‘b process’
which ensures the enticing effect of
a substance, be it a high or a sense
of relaxation, is always counteracted
by the brain to produce the exact
opposite effect. This process
explains tolerance, dependence and
withdrawal. The beginning of the
end of addiction for Grisel was the
realisation that there will never be
enough drug… what she was trying to
achieve was unattainable. She sought
wellness, but became sick, sought
fun but experienced a constant state
of anxiety and sought freedom but
became enslaved. Despite this, drug
use remained more appealing than
being exposed to the raw elements
of living.
Grisel posits that four factors
contribute to addiction: an inherited
biological disposition, copious
drug exposure, particularly during
adolescence, and a catalysing
environment. Recovery is a
process of expansion, not restriction,
and we, as psychologists, have the
potential to play an important role.
A biopsychosocial approach to
support is imperative.
In our connected world, we
are all more aware of tragedy and
suffering worldwide. Many of us feel
isolated, despite having an array
of ‘online’ friends. Our brains are
tuned to appreciate and learn from
experiences with others and the
world. Connections with others,
communication, music and dance
are all areas to focus attention on
when hoping to halt the spiral of
addiction. Human connections help
us realise change – regaining choice
and a sense of fulfilment through a
meaningful life. With this in mind,
Grisel says, we are closer to a cure
than any pill can offer.


Can you summarize everything above in 150 words