PsychologyAugust 22, 2026
automaticity
aw-tuh-muh-TIS-ih-tee
Definition
The quality of a behavior or process occurring without conscious intention, effort, or deliberation due to extensive repetition.
Etymology
Derived from the Greek 'automatos' meaning 'self-acting,' the term evolved through Latin and French to describe processes that function independently of external control or conscious thought.
In the news
The article discusses habit automaticity to explain why we reflexively check our phones when we hear a notification, noting that repeated actions in similar contexts allow the brain to bypass conscious decision-making.
Psychology says people who check their phone after hearing someone else's notification may have developed
Read the full article ↗The Economic Times