One of the kinds of pattern which serve to govern the distribution of attention in the attentional system. The 'level of attention' pattern involves the level of detail at which attention is being focused with respect to a particular participant, participants or event. For instance, in the first example below the focus of attention is upon the group of friends as a whole. The second example focuses on the internal structure or 'componentiality' of the group. Both examples thus illustrate a different level of attention.

1. the group of friends
2. the friends in the group