Social salience

In social psychology, social salience is a set of reasons which draw an observer's attention toward a particular object.

The reasons for this effect can be:

1. General object attributes - vivid colors, stands right in front of observer etc.
2. Difference between object attribute and its immediate environment.
3. Gap between observer's expectations and observable attribute.
4. Observer's goal - You are likely to focus on the object that you are looking for.

References

McArthur & Ginsberg , 1981