Automatic processes are mental activities that occur without conscious awareness or intention, allowing individuals to perform tasks efficiently while conserving cognitive resources. These processes are crucial for handling routine tasks and freeing up attentional capacity for more complex or novel activities.
Mental schemas are cognitive frameworks that help individuals organize and interpret information by utilizing prior knowledge and experiences. They allow for efficient information processing but can also lead to biases or misconceptions when encountering new or incongruous information.
Nonconscious influences are subtle, underlying factors that affect our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors without our active awareness. These influences can shape decision-making, perception, and memory, significantly altering outcomes in ways we may not consciously recognize.