Research suggests that the mere exposure effect ____.

A) is unique to humans (does not occur among other animals)
B) occurs via the conscious system only
C) is unique to humans (does not occur among other animals) and occurs via the conscious system only
D) is not unique to humans and does not occur via the conscious system

The mere exposure effect is not unique to humans and can occur without conscious awareness. It refers to the phenomenon where people tend to develop a preference for things merely because they are familiar with them. This effect has been observed in various species, indicating it is not exclusive to humans, and research has shown that it can happen without the need for conscious processing.