Attention and advertence in human groups

Observation of human interaction in small groups--specifically a group of schizophrenics & a psychotherapy group--is the basis for the construction of a conceptual framework for analyzing patterns of small group behavior & the social conventions governing them. The aim is to distill rules governing the display & management of attention. A distinction is made between attention in general & "advertence," or attention that is presented specifically for public consumption, ie, where one's awareness of the object of attention & its claim on one's attention are openly acknowledged & displayed. Extrapolating from observation, it is postulated that any small group environment includes specifiable variables which are used to manifest, attract, & withdraw advertence. In interacting with the group through these variables, the individual establishes a "mode of presentation" or pattern of advertence. 4 such modes are identified with respect to the psychotherapy group: "alert," "huddled" (complete withdrawal), "closed" (passive but involvable), & "away" (similar to day-dreaming or mind wandering). E. Holland.