Automatic and controlled influences of distinctive processing

The present paper focused on the analysis of distinctive processing by the theory of process dissociation The principal question addressed whether the influences of distinctive processing on memory were the result of conscious and unconscious influences of past experiences. Participants were divided into a category rating conditions and a pleasantness rating condition and were instructed to rate categorized lists of words. Half the participants completed the task under conditions of divided attention. Results were shown to be significant. Distinctive processing largely enhances the controlled use of prior experience.