Highway hypnosis is most closely related to which psychological phenomenon?

• A. Classical conditioning
• B. Learned helplessness
• C. Operant conditioning
• D. Automatic processing

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the term 'highway hypnosis'—it refers to a mental state where a person can drive a vehicle for a long distance without consciously remembering the details of the drive, often due to automatic or subconscious processing.
2. Step 2: Review the psychological phenomena listed: Classical conditioning involves learning through association; Learned helplessness is a state of passive resignation after repeated exposure to uncontrollable events; Operant conditioning involves learning through consequences (rewards or punishments).
3. Step 3: Recognize that highway hypnosis is not about learning through association or consequences, nor is it about helplessness; instead, it involves performing tasks without conscious awareness.
4. Step 4: Connect highway hypnosis to the concept of automatic processing, which is when tasks are performed with little conscious thought due to familiarity and practice.
5. Step 5: Conclude that highway hypnosis is most closely related to automatic processing because it involves driving behavior occurring without active conscious attention.