ABSTRACT
Distractions can come from both external and internal sources. Viewed as a stimulus, distraction is seen as being out there – in the external environment. External distraction arises from distractors such as noise, heat, cold and light. Internal distractions come from within the person. These internal distractors can be intrusive images or thoughts, impulsive behaviour, boredom, stress, unwanted emotions, fatigue and perturbing body sensations such as pain. Here distraction is defined as arising from the interaction between the person, their environment and the task they are carrying out (Bailey & Brown, 2012).
