The wide-lens approach in psychology refers to the process by which our brains can focus on a small area with great detail or a larger area with less detail, depending on what we need to pay attention to (Eriksen & St. James, 1986). To understand the wide-lens approach researchers will have people have to identify two objects at the same time to figure out how much they can see in one glance (Hüttermann et al., 2014).
The ability to see things in a certain area is called the attention window, and it’s shaped like an oval. The attention window can be extended to a visual angle of approximately 29 degrees, and two objects that require an angle of vision up to 20 degrees can be identified 28% better than two objects with a required angle of vision over 20 degrees (Hüttermann et al., 2014). Regardless of influence factors, the attention window presents itself in an elliptical shape (Hüttermann et al., 2014).
Physical exercise, motivational orientation, and mood state, as well as sport-specific (e.g., soccer, volleyball) or athletic expertise (e.g., novices, experts) can influence the attention window of athletes and referees (Hüttermann & Memmert, 2017). For example, in team sports, players can’t always see all of their teammates on the field if they’re too far away (Memmert, 2019).
References
Eriksen, C. W., & James, J. D. S. (1986). Visual attention within and around the field of focal attention: A zoom lens model. Perception & Psychophysics, 40, 225240.
Memmert, D. (2019) In D. Hackfort, R. J. Schinke, & B. Strauss (Eds.), Dictionary of sport psychology: Sport, exercise, and performing arts (p. 1). Academic Press.
Hüttermann, S., & Memmert, D. (2017). The attention window: A narrative review of limitations and opportunities influencing the focus of attention. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 88, 169183.
Hüttermann, S., Memmert, D., & Simons, D. J. (2014). The size and shape of the attentional “spotlight” varies with differences in sports expertise. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied, 20, 147157.
