Final answer:
The best example of automatic thinking is a grocery shopper who consistently chooses the same brand of bread without thinking. It showcases how our brain utilizes automatic thinking for routine tasks to save energy for more demanding activities. This phenomenon contrasts with effortful thinking, which requires conscious attention and decision-making.
Step-by-step explanation:
The scenario that best fits with the phenomenon of automatic thinking is 'A grocery shopper grabs the same brand of bread that they buy every time he goes down the bread aisle in the store'. This example illustrates how habitual actions are effortlessly carried out without the assistance of conscious thought. Automatic thinking refers to the mental process where decisions are made or actions are taken instinctively and without deliberate analytical effort. This is in contrast to effortful thinking that requires active attention and cognitive energy, such as making a list of pros and cons for a significant decision like purchasing a car, where rational and conscious consideration is necessary.
Automatic thinking is an efficient use of our cognitive resources, freeing up the conscious mind for tasks that require more intense resources of active attention and rational calculation.
Over time, as the processes and actions become routine, such as the commute to work or selecting products at the grocery store, they often transition to automatic thinking, ensuring that our brain economizes on energy and allowing us to focus on other, potentially more critical tasks at hand.