Final answer:
Feelings of familiarity are based on both consciously and unconsciously driven inferences. The unconscious aspect is often automatic and uses heuristics, while the conscious aspect involves deliberate reasoning and can alter initial automatic inferences.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question pertains to the sources of our feelings of familiarity and whether these are based on consciously or unconsciously driven inferences. The answer is c) Both consciously and unconsciously. Our brain utilizes both conscious and unconscious thought processes to make inferences about our surroundings. Consciously, we may deliberate and reason through our interpretations of various stimuli, engaging in effortful thinking when experiencing novel or complex situations, as described by Kahneman (2013). Unconsciously, our brain operates using inferences that are quick and automated, often relying on heuristics or mental shortcuts. This process helps us navigate our environment efficiently based on past experiences and is largely influenced by the complex workings of our limbic system, which includes the hypothalamus, thalamus, amygdala, and hippocampus. These innate pathways help process emotional responses, such as the immediate fear response facilitated by the amygdala. Yet, at the same time, these automatic reactions can be influenced or modified by additional information and conscious cognition.