Psychology Chapter 7 Automatic Processes

Questions and Answers

What is the definition of automatic processes?

Processes that require intention and awareness.

Processes that require a high level of effort.

Processes that occur outside of awareness. (correct)

Processes that can be controlled and monitored.

Which of the following are known as the four horsemen of automaticity?

Intention (correct)

Efficiency (correct)

Awareness (correct)

Control (correct)

What does awareness in the context of automatic processes refer to?

Recognition that a mental process is going on.

Define intention within automatic processes.

Consciously initiated actions. Signup and view all the answers

What does efficiency mean in the context of automatic processes?

Processes that can run with little or no effort. Signup and view all the answers

What is control in the context of automatic processes?

The ability to stop a process when desired. Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by the term 'automaticity continuum'?

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What is a prime?

A recent event that brings another to mind. Signup and view all the answers

What is a subliminal prime?

An event that is presented to someone without their awareness but influences their thoughts. Signup and view all the answers

Define conscious prime.

A prime that we are aware of and know we have encountered. Signup and view all the answers

What are individual differences in chronic accessibility?

How we judge people differently based on our own values and experiences. Signup and view all the answers

What does goal dependent automaticity imply?

Thinking of something despite specifically trying not to. Signup and view all the answers

What is conscious will?

The feeling of acting on one's own will. Signup and view all the answers

What does lack of awareness involve?

Implicit memory influence Signup and view all the answers

What is failure of introspection?

Not being aware of factors that influence thoughts. Signup and view all the answers

Define implicit memory.

Unconscious influences of past experiences on current judgments. Signup and view all the answers

What does the concept of pitting conscious processes against unconscious ones entail?

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Study Notes

Automatic vs. Controlled Processes

Automatic processes occur outside of awareness, functioning without intention and cannot be halted once started.
Controlled processes are intentional and monitored, requiring effort and concentration.
Example: In the Stroop test, naming the color of words can be challenging due to the conflict between automatic reading and controlled color identification.

Four Horsemen of Automaticity

Key components of automaticity include awareness, intention, efficiency, and control.

Awareness

Awareness involves the recognition of a mental process at work, like feeling thoughts forming.
Lack of awareness means recognizing the outcome of a process (e.g., seeing a red car) without understanding the underlying cognitive mechanisms.

Intention

Intention refers to consciously initiating an action or thought.
A lack of conscious intent may occur when stimuli elicit responses unconsciously, highlighting that intent involves choice.

Efficiency

Automated processes execute with minimal effort and time.
These processes function effectively, even alongside other cognitive tasks, and complete without interference.
Example: One can engage in conversation and simultaneously perceive a color, demonstrating efficient automatic processing.

Control

Control refers to the ability to halt a process when desired.
Once triggered, some processes cannot be stopped despite awareness or intent.
Instances where an action occurs against one’s wishes indicate a lack of control.

Automaticity Continuum

The idea that automaticity exists along a spectrum, ranging from fully automatic to more controlled processes.

Prime

A prime is an event or stimulus that activates related thoughts in the mind shortly thereafter.

Subliminal Prime

Subliminal primes influence thoughts without conscious awareness, such as when exposure to specific images (like kittens) affects feelings about unrelated subjects without recognition of the influence.

Conscious Prime

Conscious primes involve tasks or stimuli that are recognized, but their impact on thoughts or actions may not be fully understood.

Individual Differences in Chronic Accessibility

Refers to personal biases affecting judgment based on what individuals find important.

Goal Dependent Automaticity

The tendency for specific thoughts to arise despite intentions to avoid them, exemplified by the ironic effect of trying not to worry by inadvertently prompting that very worry.

Conscious Will

The sensation of acting upon internal desires or motivations, feeling a sense of agency in decision-making.

Lack of Awareness

Encompasses various phenomena including failure of introspection and implicit memory that affect cognition and judgment unconsciously.

Failure of Introspection

Denotes a lack of awareness regarding influences on thoughts and behavior, such as the bystander effect, where individuals fail to act in emergencies because they assume others will.

Implicit Memory

Implicit memory affects current behaviors and judgments subconsciously, influencing actions without conscious recall of past experiences.

Pitting Conscious Processes Against Unconscious Ones

Highlights the interplay between conscious awareness and unconscious influences on memory and behavior.

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Description

This quiz focuses on automatic and controlled processes as discussed in Psychology Chapter 7. Explore definitions and examples, such as the Stroop effect, to better understand how these processes work in our daily lives. Test your knowledge on the key differences between the two types of processes.