What characterizes automatic thinking?

Automatic thinking is characterized by being unconscious and effortless. This type of thinking occurs quickly and does not require deliberate thought processes. It is often driven by intuition and can arise in response to familiar situations. Automatic thinking allows individuals to make snap judgments and decisions without analyzing every detail or engaging in a slow, methodical thinking process.

In contrast, other choices represent aspects of thinking that are opposite to what defines automatic thinking. For example, conscious effort and attention, as mentioned in one choice, refer to a more deliberate and effortful type of thought, which is not consistent with the nature of automatic thinking. Similarly, slow and analytical reasoning describes a more reflective style of thinking that involves calculation and careful consideration, rather than the immediate and instinctive nature of automatic thoughts. Lastly, relying solely on factual memory implies a conscious retrieval process as opposed to the subconscious nature of automatic thinking. Thus, the defining characteristic of automatic thinking is its unconscious and effortless nature.