Automatic processing refers to thinking that is nonconscious, unintentional, involuntary, and effortless.
Automatic processing is what Psychologists call processing of information that guides behavior, but without conscious awareness, and without interfering with other conscious activity that may be going on at the same time: for example, driving slowly down a street (automatic processing) while looking for a specific address (conscious processing)
Moreover, Automatic processing refers to "implicit" or intuitive thinking that is effortless, habitual, and without awareness.
Description
Automatic processing in psychology refers to the mental process that occurs without conscious awareness or intent. It is a type of cognitive processing that allows individuals to perform tasks quickly and efficiently, often without much effort or attention. This type of processing is typically automatic and involuntary, meaning that it happens automatically and without the need for conscious control. Automatic processing is essential for everyday tasks such as driving a car, typing on a keyboard, and recognizing faces. It allows individuals to perform these tasks quickly and effortlessly, freeing up cognitive resources for other activities. Research suggests that automatic processing is influenced by factors such as practice, learning, and environmental cues.
Application Areas
- Driving
- Reading
- Language comprehension
- Face recognition
- Muscle memory
Treatment and Risks
- Therapy to modify automatic responses
- Risk of automatic biases influencing decision-making
- Strategies to override automatic processing in certain situations
- Development of mindfulness techniques to increase awareness of automatic thoughts
Examples
- Automatically braking when seeing a red light while driving
- Automatically recognizing familiar faces in a crowd
- Automatically typing on a keyboard without looking at the keys
Similar Concepts and Synonyms
- Unconscious processing
- Implicit processing
- Fast thinking
- Effortless processing
Summary
Automatic processing in psychology refers to the unconscious mental process that allows individuals to perform tasks quickly and efficiently. It occurs without conscious awareness or intent and is essential for everyday activities such as driving, reading, and recognizing faces. Factors such as practice and learning influence automatic processing, making it a valuable cognitive mechanism in human behavior.
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