Attention to secondary effects requires the formation of images of what might happen in the future. Attention is captured by the material objects, but the person pauses to think before acting. During the pause, the person creates images of cause and effect connections. The imaginary images are compared to past images stored in the person's long-term memory. A final evaluation of the images may be prolonged by a discussion of the options and possible secondary effects before the person does anything.
The entire process is still concrete because the material objects must be present. Without them, the person may not attempt to create images or abandon the effort.
Map
The person pays attention to a cue, creates an image of a primary effect, creates an image of a secondary effect in relation to surface appearance, creates an alternative method for causing the primary effect without the secondary effect, tests the new cause and effect connection, compares images, evaluates the past and all present effects, causes more effects, compares more images, evaluates more effects, makes a final evaluation of images, and decides what to do next.
The Person
The emotional experience often occurs after the new cause and effect connection is tested and depends on the success or failure of the plan.
The loss of an ability to creating sensorimotor images may be a serious cognitive disability for those people with occupations that require the application of those abilities, e.g. surgeons.
Given the general public's poor compliance with safety precautions designed to prevent secondary effects, realistic questions need to be answered about the average citizen's ability to create effects with images. Not understanding the reason for a precaution predicts failure to comply.