Cognitive Psychology Exam 2 Alexander VER

What is automatic processing?

A fast, effortless, and unconscious cognitive activity that happens without active attention or control.

What are three characteristics of automatic processes?

They occur without attention, may not create conscious awareness, and do not interfere with other mental activities.

Why are automatic processes useful?

They allow us to perform complex tasks without overloading our mental capacity.

What is an example of automatic processing?

Shifting gears while driving a manual car after the skill has been learned.

Why can learning a new skill interfere with an automatic process?

Learning a different way to perform a task can disrupt the previously automatic behavior.

What is the Stroop effect?

A delay in reaction time when the meaning of a word conflicts with the color of the ink.

What does the Stroop effect demonstrate?

It demonstrates that reading has become an automatic process.

Why is the Stroop task difficult?

People automatically read the word, making it difficult to name only the ink color.

When can the Stroop effect become stronger?

It can become stronger in depressed individuals and when words have emotional meaning.

How can sad words affect the Stroop effect?

People may focus more on the emotional meaning of the word than on its ink color.

How can phobias affect the Stroop effect?

Fear-related words can be difficult for phobic individuals to ignore.

What is consciousness?

The subjective awareness of oneself and the external world.

What is thought suppression?

The attempt to deliberately prevent oneself from thinking about something.

What is the rebound effect?

The tendency for a suppressed thought to return with increased frequency.

Why does the rebound effect occur?

The harder someone tries to suppress a thought, the more difficult it becomes to avoid thinking about it.

What is blindsight?

The ability to respond to visual information without conscious visual awareness.

What causes blindsight?

Damage to the visual cortex.

How might blindsight be possible?

Other parts of the brain may process visual information even when the visual cortex is damaged.

What does thought suppression reveal about consciousness?

People have only a limited ability to consciously control or track their own thoughts.

What is the relationship between automatic processing and consciousness?

Automatic processes can occur without conscious awareness or active attention.