Distraction-Conflict Theory (Distraction/Conflict Theory)

Distraction-Conflict Theory (Distraction/Conflict Theory) (R.S. Baron, 1970s) – a hypothesis on why the presence of others is sometimes associated with an improvement in one’s performance and other times associated with a worsening of performance. Distraction-Conflict Theory links the presence of others to attention, which can be overtaxed if one is paying attention both to the task and to others. More recent versions of Distraction-Conflict Theory also attend to other possible demands on attention, such as smartphones and flashing lights.

Please cite this article as:
Davis, B., & Francis, K. (2022). “Distraction-Conflict Theory (Distraction/Conflict Theory)” in Discourses on Learning in Education. https://learningdiscourses.com.