Final answer:
The tendency for consumers like Anne to notice stimuli related to their current needs is called perceptual vigilance, which is a component of how motivation influences perception. This concept is related to signal detection theory and is affected by sensory adaptation and attention.
Step-by-step explanation:
The tendency for consumers to be more aware of stimuli that relate to their current or immediate needs, as described in the scenario with Anne and the newspaper ad, is known as perceptual vigilance. This is part of how motivation can affect perception, highlighting the brain's prioritization of stimuli that are of immediate relevance or importance.
Signal detection theory elaborates on how individuals can identify noteworthy stimuli among irrelevant background noise. This is essential in environments where critical decisions are based on recognizing specific signals, such as in the case of air traffic controllers.
Furthermore, our sensory experiences are not always translated into perception due to phenomena like sensory adaptation, which explains how consistent, unchanging stimuli can become less perceptible over time. Attention also dictates the selectivity of perception, allowing us to focus on particular aspects of our environment while filtering out others.