The difference between automatic processing and effortful processing is that automatic processing ___ and effortful processing ___.
A) doesn't allow for multitasking; does
B) doesn't require undivided attention; does
C) benefits from extra effort; doesn't
D) encodes sensory information; encodes cognitive information

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Automatic processing refers to the ability to perform a task without requiring much conscious effort or attention, while effortful processing requires focused attention and conscious effort. Thus, option B is the correct choice, as it correctly captures the difference between automatic and effortful processing. Option A is incorrect, as automatic processing actually allows for multitasking, whereas effortful processing requires undivided attention. Option C is also incorrect, as effortful processing does benefit from extra effort. Option D is incorrect, as both automatic and effortful processing can encode both sensory and cognitive information.

The Difference Between Automatic Processing and Effortful Processing Is That