At what stage does a person become aware of performing the skill without much thought?

The correct answer is the autonomous stage because it describes the phase where an individual has mastered a skill to the point where they can perform it with little conscious effort. At this stage, actions feel fluid and automatic, allowing the person to focus on other tasks or to make strategic decisions while executing the skill. This stage signifies a high level of proficiency, where the performer can execute complex movements seamlessly, indicating that the skill has become integrated into their routine actions.

In contrast, during the cognitive stage, the learner is actively trying to understand and develop the skill, requiring significant mental effort and concentration. The associative stage involves refining and improving the skill, where the individual begins to make connections and develop discretion, but still lacks the automaticity characteristic of the autonomous stage. The evaluative stage, while not traditionally recognized in the standard model of skill acquisition, typically involves assessing performance rather than the execution of the skill itself.