subconscious: see unconscious.

or subconscious

In psychoanalysis, the part of the psychic apparatus that does not ordinarily enter the individual's awareness but may be manifested by slips of the tongue, dreams, or neurotic symptoms (see neurosis). The existence of unconscious mental activities was first elaborated by Sigmund Freud and is now a well-established principle of psychiatry. The origin of many neurotic symptoms is said to depend on conflicts that have been removed from consciousness by repression and maintained in the unconscious through various defense mechanisms. Recent biopsychological explorations have shed light on the relationship between brain physiology and the levels of consciousness at which people retain memories.

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The term subconscious is defined as existing or operating in the mind beneath or beyond conscious awareness. The word was coined by the psychologist Pierre Janet, who credited it with a hidden level of awareness and automatism. In the strict psychological sense, the adjective is defined as "operating or existing outside of consciousness". The term also appears in Sigmund Freud's very early work, to denote the unconscious mind but was soon eliminated due to its ambiguity. It may also be used to describe the preconscious, information contained in the mind, which although not presently in the conscious, may be recalled by "directing attention to them", such as memories not being recalled at present, but still available to be recalled at will. Use of the term "subconscious" is avoided in academic settings despite remaining popular in common use.

Modalities targeting the subconscious mind

There are a number of methods in use to try to directly affect the subconscious/unconscious mind, primarily the following:

• Affirmations
• Autosuggestion
• Binaural beats
• Hypnosis
• Subliminal messages

Notes and references

See also

• Consciousness
• Collective unconscious
• Preconscious
• Jacques Lacan
• REM sleep
• NREM
• Slow wave sleep

Transdisciplinary topics

• thinking
• Philosophy of mind
• List of thought processes

External links

• American Psychology Association
• Merriam Webster Dictionary Definition
• Article on Subconscious Mind Power Techniques

Further reading

• Hill, Napoleon. Think and Grow Rich (1937), Chapter XII "The Subconscious Mind".
• Powell, Robert Charles (1979). "The 'Subliminal' versus the 'Subconscious' in the American Acceptance of Psychoanalysis, 1906-1910." Journal of the History of the Behavioral Science, 15, 155-165.
• Murphy, Joseph Murphy (2001). The Power of Your Subconscious Mind, Bantam Books.
• How to Work Wonders With Your Subconscious Mind by Christian D. Larson, Aware Publishing.