Sally is driving her car and talking on her cell phone. Statistically this behavior has been shown to be quite dangerous and contributes to many automobile accidents. In performing these two tasks simultaneously, Sally uses:

a. conscious cognitive processes
b. mindless behavior
c. subconscious cognitive processes
d. nonconscious thought processes
My answer was A

I disagree.

Can u help me out with this question? I am lost but if I had to guess I would say C

Your answer, A., conscious cognitive processes, is incorrect. The correct answer is C. subconscious cognitive processes.

When Sally is driving her car and talking on her cell phone, she is likely relying on subconscious cognitive processes. Subconscious processing refers to mental activity that occurs without conscious awareness or deliberate effort. Since driving is a well-practiced skill for many people, it is often automated and requires less conscious attention. This allows individuals to engage in other tasks simultaneously, such as talking on the phone. However, it is important to note that although the driving task may be subconscious, it does not make it safe or less dangerous.

Your answer, A - conscious cognitive processes, is correct.

When Sally is driving her car and talking on her cell phone simultaneously, she is using conscious cognitive processes. Conscious cognitive processes involve actively using deliberate attention, awareness, and thinking to perform tasks. In this case, Sally is consciously dividing her attention between driving and talking on her cell phone.

To arrive at this answer, it helps to understand the different types of cognitive processes:

1. Conscious cognitive processes: These processes require active attention and deliberate thinking. They involve being consciously aware of what you are doing and applying conscious effort to complete a task. In this scenario, Sally is consciously aware that she is driving and talking on the phone, actively dividing her attention between the two.

2. Mindless behavior: Mindless behavior refers to habitual actions that are performed without conscious effort or attention. It is not applicable in this scenario since Sally is actively engaging in two tasks simultaneously, indicating conscious cognitive processing.

3. Subconscious cognitive processes: Subconscious cognitive processes occur below the level of conscious awareness. They involve mental processes that influence behavior but are not consciously recognized. Since Sally is consciously aware of both driving and talking on the phone, subconscious cognitive processes are not applicable in this case.

4. Nonconscious thought processes: Nonconscious thought processes occur beyond conscious awareness and without conscious control. They involve automatic cognitive processes that happen without intentional thought. Since Sally is actively aware of both activities, nonconscious thought processes are not at play.

Hence, the correct answer is A - conscious cognitive processes.