Attentional scaffolds controllable by individuals constitute techniques of attention.

Evidence

Recalling Mauss’s (1973) notion of “techniques of the body” and more recent invocations of the technique versus technology contrast (e.g., Ingold 1987), we refer to these as “techniques of attention,” by which we wish to denote those attentional scaffolds that are integral to—and potentially controllable by—individual agents. — Annual Review of Anthropology contributors (⚠ verify author line), The Political Economy of Attention, 45

Categorization

• DEFINE: Defines ‘techniques of attention’ by contrast with external attentional technologies or traps.
• XREF: Echoes Mauss techniques of the body and Ingold’s technique/technology distinction the reader will recognize from craft-and-materiality literature. — connects to: Attention must be managed at individual, managerial, and organizational levels to achieve goals — Thomas Davenport & John Beck, The Attention Economy: Understanding…, 15; Attention is socially and materially mediated, not just a scarce mental resource — Annual Review of Anthropology contributors (⚠ verify author line), The Political Economy of Attention, 26; Artworks function as training apparatuses for deliberately directing attention — Jenny Odell, How to Do Nothing: Resisting the…, 387 (+2 more)

Related

• Attention can be anthropologically theorized as either technologies or techniques (similarity 0.85)
• Attention is socially and materially mediated, not just a scarce mental resource (similarity 0.81)
• Anthropology has studied attention mostly implicitly, not as an explicit topic (similarity 0.80)
• Attention can be deliberately wielded, not just reclaimed (similarity 0.80)
• Directing attention is trainable like breath control (similarity 0.79)
• Artworks function as training apparatuses for deliberately directing attention (similarity 0.78)

Broader Connections

• Artworks function as training apparatuses for deliberately directing attention #expands (0.90) — Jenny Odell, How to Do Nothing, 387
• Attention can be deliberately wielded, not just reclaimed #corroborates (0.85)