Which term refers to cognitive activities that require virtually no effort or attention?

Which term refers to cognitive activities that require virtually no effort or attention?

• A. Controlled processing
• B. Divided attention
• C. Selective attention
• D. Automatic processes

Answer: (D)

Automatic processing describes cognitive activities that run with virtually no effort or conscious attention. Once a task becomes well practiced, you can perform it without actively focusing, freeing mental resources for other things. That’s why you can drive a familiar route or type on a familiar keyboard while chatting or thinking about something else—the action occurs automatically and doesn’t demand your full concentration. In contrast, letting controlled processing handle a task requires deliberate effort and attention, especially when the task is new or complex. Divided attention is about trying to handle several tasks at once, which tends to reduce performance, and selective attention refers to focusing on one thing while ignoring distractions. These describe how we allocate attention and effort, not the automatic, effortless nature of a well-practiced activity.

Automatic processing describes cognitive activities that run with virtually no effort or conscious attention. Once a task becomes well practiced, you can perform it without actively focusing, freeing mental resources for other things. That’s why you can drive a familiar route or type on a familiar keyboard while chatting or thinking about something else—the action occurs automatically and doesn’t demand your full concentration.

In contrast, letting controlled processing handle a task requires deliberate effort and attention, especially when the task is new or complex. Divided attention is about trying to handle several tasks at once, which tends to reduce performance, and selective attention refers to focusing on one thing while ignoring distractions. These describe how we allocate attention and effort, not the automatic, effortless nature of a well-practiced activity.