In cognitive psychology, which approach is generally associated with improved attention and reduced cognitive errors: mindfulness or multitasking?

• A. Multitasking is generally associated with improved attention and reduced cognitive errors.
• B. Neither mindfulness nor multitasking has any effect on attention or cognitive errors.
• C. Mindfulness is generally associated with improved attention and reduced cognitive errors.
• D. Both mindfulness and multitasking equally improve attention and reduce cognitive errors.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the key concepts involved—mindfulness and multitasking. Mindfulness refers to a focused, present-moment awareness, while multitasking involves attempting to perform multiple tasks simultaneously.
2. Step 2: Recognize how attention works in cognitive psychology. Attention is a limited resource, and dividing it across multiple tasks (multitasking) often leads to decreased performance and increased errors.
3. Step 3: Review research findings that show mindfulness practices enhance sustained attention and reduce cognitive errors by promoting focused awareness and reducing distractions.
4. Step 4: Contrast this with multitasking, which tends to fragment attention, leading to more mistakes and poorer task performance.
5. Step 5: Conclude that mindfulness is generally associated with improved attention and reduced cognitive errors, whereas multitasking does not improve and often impairs these cognitive functions.