Final answer:
Certain behaviors that operate outside of conscious awareness or are cognitively efficient are known as heuristics. These unconscious processes allow us to perform tasks automatically, and are contrasted with conscious, effortful thinking required for new or complex situations. Freud likened much of our mental activity, including these behaviors, to the submerged part of an iceberg, indicating their unconscious nature.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term describing certain behaviors that are unintentional, uncontrollable, occur outside of conscious awareness, or are cognitively efficient is often referred to as heuristics. These mental shortcuts allow us to engage in behaviors without conscious effort, such as driving on 'autopilot' or navigating a grocery store while planning a meal. Daniel Kahneman refers to these automatic thought processes as fast thinking, which contrasts with slow thinking, or the effortful, conscious attention required for novel or complex tasks.
Sigmund Freud's comparison of the mind to an iceberg suggests that most of our mental processes, particularly those governing behaviors, our unconscious. This includes not only heuristics but also instincts and cognitive biases, which can lead to less optimal decision-making. Innate behaviors or instincts, such as a dog drooling at the sight of food, are examples of actions that occur without conscious thought or learning. Lastly, behavioral economics explores how humans often act irrationally, despite assuming complete self-control, highlighting our vulnerability to unconscious influences and biases.