Module 1: States of consciousness

Psychology -> Area of Study 3 - States of Consciousness -> Waking consciousness -> Characteristics of Normal Waking Consciousness -> Automatic processes

Automatic processes

Automatic processes: the driver is awake but on 'automatic pilot'
Once you have had some practice at driving, you will probably feel much more confident and no longer require such focused attention on the different aspects of driving a car. Your consciousness then involves automatic processes. This is when you are awake but on 'automatic pilot'. Automatic processes occur with little awareness, require minimal attention and do not interfere with many other activities.

For example, after some experience driving a car, you would probably change gears or lanes without much effort or little awareness. You could then cope with changing radio stations while continuing to drive. Sometimes you may even wonder how you got to your destination as you weren't paying much attention to your driving.