Introductory Psychology CLEP Prep Practice Exam

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Prepare for the CLEP Psychology Exam with flashcards and multiple-choice questions. Each question comes with hints and explanations to help you succeed. Master the content and pass your exam!

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What is the term for an unconscious process that impacts behavior?

Cognitive dissonance
Priming
Cognitive bias
Automatic processing

The correct answer is: Automatic processing

Automatic processing refers to the underlying mental process that influences our thoughts and actions without us consciously realizing it. It is often contrasted with controlled processing, which involves conscious effort and thought. Cognitive dissonance, priming, and cognitive bias all involve conscious thought and decision-making processes, thus they are not examples of automatic processing. Cognitive dissonance and cognitive bias refer to our tendency to maintain consistent attitudes and beliefs, while priming refers to the process of activating certain thoughts or memories to influence our behavior. Therefore, automatic processing is the most appropriate term for an unconscious process that impacts behavior.