"Attention is the concentration of consciousness upon one object rather than upon another." This statement is given by

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct answer is Option 1, Dumville.

**Explanation for Option 1 (Dumville) being correct:**

The statement, "Attention is the concentration of consciousness upon one object rather than upon another," is a widely recognized definition of attention attributed to **Benjamin Dumville**. Dumville, a prominent figure in early 20th-century psychology, emphasized the selective nature of attention, highlighting that it involves focusing mental resources on a particular stimulus or thought while actively excluding others. This definition clearly articulates attention as a process of conscious selection and concentration, which aligns perfectly with the given statement. Many psychology textbooks and academic sources credit Dumville with this precise formulation, making Option 1 the accurate choice.

**Explanation for why other options are incorrect:**

*   **Option 2 (Ross):** Ross defined attention as "a process of getting an object of thought clearly before the mind." While similar in concept, his phrasing is distinct from the given statement. Ross's definition emphasizes clarity of thought, whereas Dumville's focuses on the *concentration of consciousness* and the *exclusion of other objects*.
*   **Option 3 (Munn):** Munn's definition of attention is often cited as "the process of focusing on certain stimuli while ignoring others." Although this definition also highlights the selective aspect of attention, the specific wording "concentration of consciousness upon one object rather than upon another" is not attributed to Munn. His definition is more generalized about focusing on stimuli.
*   **Option 4 (McDougall):** William McDougall, known for his hormic psychology, viewed attention as an aspect of conation or striving, often linked to instinctual drives. His definitions of attention typically emphasize its active, purposive, and often emotional nature. For instance, he might describe attention as "the striving of the mind to grasp clearly some object or idea." This perspective is different from the more cognitive and descriptive definition provided in the question, which focuses on the concentration of consciousness.