Final answer:
The aspects of a stimulus that draw attention include change (such as any variation that makes it stand out), motivation (our personal drive to notice certain stimuli), and aspects of signal detection theory (discerning a stimulus amidst noise). Attention is a complex process influenced by both the nature of the stimulus and the perceiver's psychological state.
Step-by-step explanation:
The aspects of a stimulus that will cause it to receive our attention are primarily change, motivation, and signal detection theory. Change refers to any alteration in the stimulus, such as visual or auditory changes that make it stand out from the environment. Depth might affect how we perceive a stimulus visually, but it is not directly related to garnering attention. Congruence may actually reduce attention since we are more likely to notice things that are incongruent or unusual. Persistence can also draw our attention, but it is usually the change in the stimulus over time that initially attracts our focus.
Motivation is another significant factor influencing our attention. If we are motivated to detect a specific stimulus, we become more attuned to it, as exemplified by the expectancy for an important phone call. Signal detection theory plays a role in how we discern important stimuli from background noise in our environment, as when a parent detects a baby's murmur amidst other sounds.
Attention is critical for turning sensory input into meaningful perceptions. Our attention is selective and can be influenced by the characteristics of stimuli – like their intensity – but also by our psychological state, such as motivation or previous experiences.