Prof. Joseph Levine, M.D. is an emeritus associate professor in the Division of Psychiatry, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben Gurion University in Israel. Prof. Levine is a certified psychiatrist with clinical experience in controlled trials of adult psychiatric disorders and in psychotherapy. He was awarded a NRSAD independent investigator grant for the study of Creatine Monohydrate in psychiatric disorders -- mainly Schizophrenia. He resides and treats patients in Tel Aviv and all of central Israel.
The iceberg of the unconscious and the directorate of internalized characters in our psyche
Greetings to our readers,
In general, the concept of the unconscious has captured the hearts of researchers and clinicians for over a century, starting with early psychoanalytic theories and ending with modern neuroscience research.
Understanding the unconscious appears to be essential to understanding the full spectrum of human experience, including behaviors, thoughts, and feelings that operate below the conscious level.
In general, the concept of the unconscious includes different types, each of which is defined by different theoretical frameworks.
Below is a suggestion for several types of unconscious processes:
Dynamic subconscious: originated in Freudian psychoanalysis, and includes repressed impulses, desires, memories and conflicts.
Sigmund Shlomo Freud [1856-1939]
Collective Unconscious: Introduced by Carl Jung, this refers to shared and universal archetypes and symbols throughout humanity.
Cognitive unconscious: The cognitive psychology perspective, which includes automatic thoughts, implicit memories, and subliminal processing.
Procedural Unconscious: Related to procedural memory, mastery of skills and habits learned without conscious awareness.
Neural Subconscious: The neuroscience view that includes brain activities that occur without conscious awareness, such as those managed by the amygdala and basal ganglia.
Each type emphasizes different aspects and functions of unconscious processes in human cognition and behavior.
As a general rule, the distinction between conscious and unconscious processes is a fundamental issue in psychology and neuroscience.
Here is an overview of the differences between the two:
Conscious processes:
Definition: Conscious processes refer to thoughts, feelings, perceptions, and intentions that people are aware of and can access introspectively. These processes involve awareness and are within the domain of their intentional control and intentional actions.
Characteristics: Voluntary, intentional, accessible and reportable.
Examples: deciding what to eat for dinner, solving a math problem, consciously recalling an event from the past.
Unconscious processes:
Definition: Unconscious processes refer to mental operations that occur outside of conscious awareness. These processes are automatic, not accessible to introspection, and influence behavior and thought without the individual's conscious knowledge.
Characteristics: automatic, involuntary, inaccessible and non-reportable.
Examples: reflex actions, implicit biases, procedural memory, subliminal perception.
mechanisms and functions.
Conscious processes:
Mechanisms: These involve higher-order brain regions, particularly the prefrontal cortex, which supports functions such as decision-making, problem-solving and planning. Conscious processes require the integration of information across different neural networks, including the default default network (DMN) and control networks.
Functions: Facilitate intentional actions, goal-directed behavior, complex thinking, and reflective thinking. Conscious processes allow people to plan, evaluate and adjust their actions based on new information and feedback.
Mechanisms: These involve subcortical structures such as the amygdala, basal ganglia and cerebellum, as well as cortical areas such as the occipital and temporal lobes for sensory processing. These processes operate through parallel automatic neural pathways that do not require conscious control or awareness.
Functions: to support quick and efficient responses to environmental stimuli, facilitate normal behaviors and manage cognitive tasks in the background. These unconscious processes are essential for survival, and allow people to respond quickly to threats and carry out routine activities without expending conscious effort.
Theoretical perspectives
Freud's psychoanalytic theory assumes that the unconscious contains repressed memories, desires and instincts that influence behavior. The conscious mind, on the other hand, deals with immediate awareness and deliberate thought.
The dynamic interaction between conscious and unconscious processes is central to understanding human behavior in Freud's model.
Cognitive Psychology:
Cognitive theories distinguish between conscious and unconscious processes based on levels of cognitive control and accessibility. Conscious cognition involves active and intentional thinking, while unconscious cognition involves implicit and associative automatic processes.
Implicit memory and automaticity are key concepts in cognitive psychology that emphasize the role of the unconscious.
A neuroscience perspective:
Neuroscience studies the neural correlates of conscious and unconscious processes. Consciousness is associated with widespread and coordinated activity across cortical networks, while unconscious processes involve local, subcortical activity and automatic neural circuits.
Studies using brain imaging methods (eg, fMRI, PET) have identified clear patterns of brain activity corresponding to conscious and unconscious tasks.
Conscious processes:
These are investigated using introspective methods, self-report measures, and tasks that require intentional control (eg, decision making, problem solving).
Brain imaging studies focus on cortical activity, particularly the prefrontal cortex and its associated networks.
Unconscious processes:
These are tested using indirect measures, such as reaction times, preparation tasks and implicit association tests (IAT).
Brain imaging studies highlight subcortical activity and automatic processing pathways, including the amygdala, basal ganglia, and cerebellum.
Clinical implications
Conscious processes:
Therapeutic interventions often aim to increase awareness and conscious control, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), which focuses on maladaptive conscious thoughts and beliefs. Although this treatment also brings to consciousness thoughts that are in the subconscious.
Mindfulness and introspective practices are used to improve conscious self-regulation and emotional management.
Unconscious processes:
Psychodynamic therapies focus on bringing unconscious material into awareness to resolve internal conflicts and improve mental health.
Techniques such as free association, dream analysis, and implicit bias training address unconscious influences on behavior and cognition.
Conclusion
The distinction between conscious and unconscious processes includes differences in awareness, control, neural mechanisms, and functional processes. Conscious processes involve deliberate and reflective thinking and are associated with higher order cortical activity, while unconscious processes operate automatically and involve subcortical structures and corresponding neural pathways. Understanding these distinctions provides important insights into human cognition, behavior and therapeutic approaches.
References
Freud, S. (1915). "The Unconscious." Freud's work on the unconscious is well-documented in his standard editions, which explore the dynamics of the unconscious mind and its influence on behavior.
Kihlstrom, J. F. (1987). "The Cognitive Unconscious." Science, 237(4821), 1445-1452. Kihlstrom's paper discusses the impact of non-conscious mental structures and processes on conscious experience, thought, and action.
Bargh, J. A., & Morsella, E. (2008). "The Unconscious Mind." Perspectives on Psychological Science, 3(1), 73-79. This reference outlines how unconscious processes influence behavior through automatic and implicit mechanisms.
Dehaene, S., & Naccache, L. (2001). "Towards a Cognitive Neuroscience of Consciousness: Basic Evidence and a Workspace Framework." Cognition, 79(1-2), 1-37. This reference explores the neural basis of conscious and unconscious processes through a cognitive neuroscience framework.
Damasio, A. R. (1999). "The Feeling of What Happens: Body and Emotion in the Making of Consciousness.". Damasio's work examines the interplay between emotions, body states, and consciousness, highlighting how unconscious processes contribute to conscious experience.
We will note here now that in 2017 an interesting interview was published on the subject of the unconscious.
[Delving within: the new science of the unconscious
Steve Paulson, Heather A. Berlin, Efrat Ginot, George Makari
First published: 20 June 2017]
https://doi-org.bengurionu.idm.oclc.org/10.1111/nyas.13390]
To the interviewer Steve Paulson's question [in the discussion about the unconscious] is there a clear dividing line between the unconscious and the conscious? Efrat Ginot answered:
Steve Paulson – moderator of the discussion and executive producer of the book “To the Best of Our Knowledge”.
Efrat Ginot – graduate of the post-doctoral program in psychotherapy and psychoanalysis at New York University
"Efrat Ginot: To answer this, I want to go back and tell you what interested me in the whole field of the unconscious. When I did years and years of work trying to help patients, I was always amazed by the phenomenon of why is it so hard for people to change? People really want it; they have insights, yet all kinds of patterns keep creeping up on them.
Even if we intend to do things differently, we still slip into a different state of self. The more conventional explanations, that is, resistance to change, are too scary, attached to all kinds of attachment figures, like our parents; we don't want to part with them.
All of these may have a place as an explanation, but I think there must be something else that motivates us much more. We think that a lot of what happens, happens under the radar – as Damasio said, the vast unconscious. Only a few patterns rise to the level of consciousness.
To be very, very brief, we all have different self-states – self-systems. Each of them develops within a certain inter-subjective parental situation. We learn and we make interpretations about the world. We have built an unconscious self-system.
But the unconscious does not remain unconscious, because as creatures, the motor area of the brain that activates our behavior is very involved with all the other areas, including those containing the unconscious, and we activate what is there.
In the past we had the idea that the unconscious was like a container, like a closed place for unfulfilled wishes due to trauma and memories we couldn't remember because they were too scary. We don't think like that anymore, at least in the cognitive sense."
A similar question was posed in this interview from Steve Paulson to Heather Berlin: "Heather, let me get you into this. From the perspective of neuroscience, is there a clear dividing line between the conscious and the unconscious?"
Heather A. Berlin – cognitive neuroscientist at the Aiken School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York.
"Heather Berlin: First, the definition is really important. Consciousness is a first-person subjective experience – only I know about my consciousness. I assume you are conscious, but I don't know if you are conscious. When you study conscious perception in the lab you can ask people things like, "Did you see the stimulus or didn't you see it?" We assess consciousness mainly through self-report. And we put a lot of things into this big basket that we call the unconscious.
First, I am not aware of things happening in the room behind me that I am not aware of – I am not aware of it. My brain doesn't even process that information.
Second, some people are unconscious when their brain's "battery power" system is disabled, damaged, or otherwise malfunctioning – that is, when key areas in the brainstem and midbrain that inject the brain with neurotransmitters that keep it awake and active are damaged, malfunctioning, or not are active. When someone is in a coma, under general anesthesia, or in a deep dreamless sleep, they are considered unconscious, but this type of unconscious refers to the level of consciousness, that is, you or the unconscious because you are not awake.
Thirdly, you have a whole and fully awake brain. In this state there are certain things that the brain processes that it is not aware of, as opposed to things that it is aware of. It's a different kind of subconscious. You are fully awake and the information is being processed by your brain, but you have no subjective awareness of it.
We can examine what we call the 'cold' subconscious by presenting information to the subject subconsciously and checking whether it has an effect on his behavior afterward." to him but is not the center of attention and when he draws the person's attention he will notice it].
Fourthly, there is also the dynamic and warmer unconscious, which is emotional and related to impulses and motives – the really juicy part that is the focus of psychoanalysis.
So when talking about the unconscious, it is not a uniform thing. If you're talking about what the brain processes that we're not aware of versus what it processes that we're aware of, then there are some distinctions that we can begin to make in terms of brain function.
Ideally and eventually, we can begin to predict at the neural level whether a person will have a conscious subjective experience of information presented to them or whether this information is going to be processed in the brain outside of awareness."
And Efrat Ginot added on the subject that: "Yes, if I may. That's why I think it's good to talk about unconscious processes and not about the unconscious, because the unconscious consists of all the brain processes that occur simultaneously. Once we have a complete theory of the neural basis of consciousness , so we can tell if something is conscious or not. One of them is that we need feedback loops from the prefrontal cortex or the thalamocortical loops – that go from the subcortical areas to the cortex and back, and that you need these resonant loops to experience conscious experience.
And you also need feedback loops within the cortex. For example, if you were to process something, let's say unconsciously, you would activate the primary visual cortex.
When you become aware of this, you begin to activate secondary visual cortices in the brain that process the information more deeply or evaluate and pass it on, and finally when you receive activation and feedback from the prefrontal cortex to the primary visual processing areas, that's when you have the conscious experience the fullness of the stimuli. It is not a place in the brain. It's a process, and it's related to systems and networks."
Historical evolution of the theory of the unconscious
Early psychoanalytic perspectives:
The concept of the unconscious was first systematically studied by Sigmund Freud, the founder of psychoanalysis. Freud's work in the late 19th and early 20th centuries drew much attention to the unconscious, suggesting that it harbors repressed memories, desires, and emotions that influence behavior.
However, the concept of unconscious processes existed earlier in various philosophical and psychological contexts. Philosophers such as Leibniz and Schopenhauer, and psychologists such as Pierre Janet, also discussed unconscious mental processes before Freud's extensive theoretical development.
George McCurry in the interview mentioned above with Steve Paulson commented on the historical context:
George McCurry – Director of the DeWitt Wallace Institute for the History of Psychiatry, Professor of Psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medical College, and Adjunct Professor at the Rockefeller University and the Center for Psychoanalytic Training and Research at Columbia University.
"George McCurry: You will immediately notice when you think of the word "unconscious" that it is a negative category: it is unconscious. In a way, to really understand the word unconscious deeply, you have to start with the word conscious or consciousness. Now consciousness began its life in very specific time. For Locke, and several decades earlier, they had a very specific idea. There was no such thing as a mental experience that was not conscious ", that was consciousness for him. When Locke thought of consciousness, he thought of it solely as a conscious entity.
This went on for about 100 years until Kant and some Germans said it was actually wrong; There was something else in consciousness related to the construction of the experience. Kant made it metaphysical. The Germans began to say that there are unknown and unconscious selves and processes within us that construct consciousness. This happened in the late 18th century and continued into the first part of the 19th century – the idea of the unconscious being mental. People have already thought about an unconscious that is physiological. But the unconscious being mental was new then and it led through several nooks and crannies to Sigmund Freud some 80 years later."
Later in Steve Paulson's interview, Efrat Ginot and George McCarry discussed Freud's contribution to the unconscious:
"Paulson: There are a few different ways we can talk about the unconscious. One is the science of it or the neuroscience of it. The other is the unconscious as an idea. George, you've started taking us into history. We've come to Freud. Are we still dealing In Freud's definition, the unconscious?"
"McCarry: Let me address some of the comments that my colleagues have made, because, in a way, when you get to Freud there's a huge problem. The problem is epistemological [the problem of being]. It's so hard to know consciousness because it's based on self-report. You ask something; the subjects can lie You – they can't be very aware either. Now we're talking about things that by definition they won't be aware of, and we're going to rely on self-reporting to understand the issue – that's been the way so far.
You can correct me if I'm wrong. In cognitive neuroscience, you have to rely on this internal report of the subjects. That's why researchers have to be very careful and smart. I think the unconscious is actually a very interesting thing that can be used in everyday life. Freud was very smart. How do you notice that there is a conscious process? You notice it by its strange effect on consciousness. If you can begin to infer some of the strange things that happen in consciousness. To infer is not to know, but you can try to infer something unconscious.
It was then that Freud began to look at these things that most people simply ignore in normal social conversation – slips of the tongue, jokes that land badly on the hearer, the best person's speech that really goes wrong, and especially dreams. One of the big things he started to look at was the way we shape an interaction between two people through what he called transference. To look by examining what is happening – not just in the mind…..and it allows to start thinking in a richer way about our inner life."
And Efrat Ginot added:
"If I may add, it is not only about the inner life, because all these unconscious systems have to be carried out or expressed in the outer world. One of the ways to recognize the patterns – and we can do this to ourselves – is that we have to recognize recurring patterns that we do not like.
This way, repetition compulsion, which is a Freudian concept, is very useful – the return of the repressed. Freud was right about this, too, because these patterns continue to emerge unconsciously. I want to emphasize the automatic nature of these patterns – we find ourselves in them. In addition to questioning, we observe our patients and ourselves. This is why transference is so important because it is the unconscious pattern that is reflected in our behavior."
And George McCurry continued: "It actually revolves around a very big idea that Freud was right about. It's a strange idea, because what he assumed was that the brain, like a biological organism, regulates itself in some way. He did this when he was surrounded by mechanistic models of the body with cogs and such, and religious models of the mind, he said that the mind actually seeks to protect itself from overstimulation. This was the idea of unconscious defenses that the Freudians had. Of them there was a descriptive—a simple descriptive that says it's a jungle out there; your attention is focused on what it's focused on, but if I say, "Hey, think about that part of the jungle over there, you can pull that unconscious up and look at it." This is the descriptive unconscious.
But he also posited this other thing called the dynamic unconscious, where there is a barrier to bringing certain contents into consciousness. You can't just focus your attention there and pull that unconscious up. That was the beginning, as you know. You have just heard that there are all kinds of different external manifestations of this; Some of it ends up matching the situation; Some of it will end up not being so perfect, or maybe even wrong.
The general idea is that as mental beings we have the ability to self-regulate and maintain some kind of internal homeostasis [balance]. It's a fascinating idea, and it was quite original."
And Efrat Ginot adds again: "This, by the way, is completely supported by evolution, because in any organism, even in an amoeba, the most important function is protection. If you shine a light on the amoeba, it will move away. It has an innate need to return to homeostasis."
So it seems that Sigmund Freud's psychoanalytic theory was a pioneer in its claim that unconscious processes significantly influence behavior. Freud proposed that the psyche consists of the conscious, preconscious, and unconscious layers, with the latter housing repressed memories, desires, and instincts. Freud's structural model, which includes the id [drives], ego [self] and superego [values, conscience, morals], further clarified how unconscious conflicts shape personality and behavior.
Jungian contributions:
Carl Jung expanded on Freud's ideas, introducing the concept of the collective unconscious. Jung assumed that the unconscious includes shared archetypes and symbols beyond personal experience, and influence collective human behavior and culture.
Jung's theories emphasized the role of unconscious processes in creativity, spirituality and personal development.
Behaviorism and cognitive psychology:
Behaviorist criticism in the mid-20th century challenged the focus on the unconscious, emphasizing observed behavior over internal processes. However, cognitive psychology later renewed interest in the unconscious by investigating automatic cognitive processes, implicit memory, and subliminal perception.
Neurobiological foundations of the unconscious
Brain structures and networks:
Neuroscience research has identified several brain structures involved in unconscious processing. The amygdala, hippocampus, and basal ganglia play key roles in emotional memory, procedural learning, and
habit formation, often operating outside of conscious awareness.
The default brain network (DMN), active during rest and introspection, is involved in self-reflection and mind wandering, which may involve unconscious processes.
Neuroconductors and neural pathways
Neurotransmitters such as dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine influence unconscious processes by regulating mood, arousal, and reward systems. The interactions between the cortical and subcortical pathways allow for the integration of conscious and unconscious information, and contribute to decision-making and emotional regulation.
Sleep and dream:
Sleep, especially REM sleep, is a critical period for unconscious processing. Dream studies indicate that the brain consolidates memories, resolves conflicts and processes emotions during sleep. The activation-synthesis hypothesis and threat simulation theory provide frameworks for understanding the unconscious functions of dreaming.
Subconscious theories:
The subconscious has been the subject of intense research and various theories have been proposed to explain its mechanisms and influence.
Here are five leading theories:
Freudian psychoanalytic theory:
Source: Sigmund Freud
Core Concepts: Freud postulated that the unconscious is a reservoir of thoughts, memories, and desires that are outside awareness but significantly influence behavior. The unconscious consists of repressed memories and instincts, and includes the id, and parts of the ego and superego dynamics.
Mechanisms: Repression, where disturbing memories or impulses are pushed out of awareness, is central. Defense mechanisms such as denial, projection and displacement protect the conscious mind from these repressed elements.
Jungian analytical psychology:
Source: Carl Jung
Core Concepts: Jung expanded on Freud's ideas, introducing the collective unconscious, a shared pool of archetypes and symbols beyond personal experience, while the personal unconscious includes memories and experiences unique to a person.
Mechanisms: archetypes (universal, inherited symbols or patterns) such as the shadow, anima/animus and the behavior of the self guide and influence the unconscious.
Cognitive-behavioral theory (CBT):
Provenance: Aaron Beck, Albert Ellis and others
Core Concepts: In CBT, the unconscious is often referred to in terms of automatic thoughts and cognitive schemas that influence emotions and behavior. These are learned thought patterns that operate outside of awareness.
Mechanisms: Cognitive distortions (eg, overgeneralization, catastrophizing) and automatic thoughts are targeted and modified through therapeutic interventions.
Neuroscience theories:
Origin: Neuroscientists and various researchers
Core Concepts: Neuroscience explains the unconscious in terms of brain structures and neural networks. The unconscious processes involve subcortical areas such as the amygdala, hippocampus and basal ganglia.
Mechanisms: Neural mechanisms underlying unconscious processes include synaptic plasticity, neurochemical pathways, and the interaction between the default brain network (DMN) and networks that manage different functions.
Evolutionary Psychology:
Provenance: Leda Cosmides, John Tobey and others
John Tobey [1885-1971]
Core Concepts: This theory proposes that the unconscious mind evolved to handle tasks essential to survival and reproduction. Unconscious processes are seen as adaptations that evolved to solve repetitive problems that faced our ancestors.
Mechanisms: Unconscious instincts and biases (eg, fear of snakes, preference for high-calorie foods) are seen as evolutionary adaptations. Implicit memory systems and instinctive behaviors work outside of awareness to increase resilience.
As a whole, the above theories provide diverse perspectives on the unconscious, and each contributes important insights into how unconscious processes shape human behavior, cognition, and emotion.
We will also note that several other theories and perspectives have been developed to explain the unconscious.
Here are some more theories:
Existentialist and humanistic theories:
Origin: Rollo May, Carl Rogers, Abraham Maslow
Core Concepts: These theories emphasize personal growth, self-actualization, and the existential aspects of the human experience. The unconscious is seen as a part of the self that can hinder or facilitate personal growth.
Mechanisms: Unresolved existential anxieties and a potential unknown to man are central components. These therapeutic approaches focus on bringing unconscious elements into awareness to promote self-understanding and authenticity.
Behaviorist theory:
Source: John B. Watson, B.P. Skinner
Core Concepts: Behaviorism largely eliminates the concept of the unconscious, focusing instead on observed behavior. However, some behaviorists recognize that unconscious processes can influence behavior through conditioning.
Mechanisms: Classical and operant conditioning involve learning that occurs outside of awareness. Habit formation and conditioned responses are examples of unconscious influences.
Social and cultural theories:
Source: Lev Vygotsky, George Herbert Mead
George Herbert Mead [1863–1931] philosopher, psychologist and sociologist, one of the founders of social psychology
Core Concepts: These theories emphasize the role of social interactions and cultural context in shaping the unconscious. The unconscious is influenced by social norms, cultural symbols and language.
Mechanisms: internalizing social and cultural norms, language acquisition and social learning are central processes. The subconscious is seen as shaped by the wider social environment.
Information processing theories:
Provenance: Various cognitive scientists
Core concepts: These theories see the unconscious as part of the cognitive architecture that processes information automatically. The unconscious handles tasks such as perception, memory and decision-making without conscious awareness.
Mechanisms: Implicit memory, automaticity and parallel processing are key concepts. The brain processes vast amounts of information unconsciously in order to manage cognitive load efficiently.
The theory of dynamical systems:
Origin: Various researchers in psychology and neuroscience
Core Concepts: This theory views the mind, including the unconscious, as a complex and dynamic system that is constantly evolving. It emphasizes the interaction between different components of the brain and external influences.
Mechanisms: Non-linear interactions, feedback loops and evolving traits are key mechanisms. The unconscious is part of a dynamic system that adapts and changes in response to internal and external stimuli.
Integrated Information Theory (IIT):
Source: Giulio Tononi
Giulio Tononi: neuroscientist and psychiatrist [1960- ]
Core Concepts: IIT is primarily a theory of consciousness but also provides insights into unconscious processes. It assumes that consciousness arises from the integration of information in the brain, suggesting that unconscious processes involve less integrated information.
Mechanisms: The levels of integration and complexity of the information determine the degree of conscious versus unconscious processing. Unconscious processes involve simpler and more segregated patterns of information.
We note that each of these theories offers a unique perspective on the unconscious, and contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of this complex aspect of the human mind.
Drawing of the human brain in middle section
Understanding the brain regions involved in unconscious processes requires examining how different neural structures contribute to different aspects of unconscious cognition, emotion, and behavior. Below is an extended overview of key areas of the brain and their functions in relation to the unconscious:
Amygdala:
Function: The amygdala is essential for processing emotions, especially fear and pleasure. It plays a significant role in memory and emotional responses.
Unconscious role: The amygdala processes emotional stimuli unconsciously, enabling quick and automatic responses to potential threats or rewards before awareness comes into play.
Hippocampus:
Function: The hippocampus is essential for creating new memories and retrieving explicit (conscious) memories.
Unconscious role: While the hippocampus is primarily associated with conscious memory, it also communicates with the amygdala to form implicit emotional memories that unconsciously influence behavior.
Basal ganglia:
Function: The basal ganglia are involved in motor control, procedural learning and habit formation.
Unconscious role: They play a crucial role in the automation of repetitive tasks and the development of habits, allowing actions to be performed without conscious thought once they are learned.
Cerebellum:
Function: The cerebellum coordinates voluntary movements, balance and motor learning.
Unconscious functioning: It supports unconscious fine-tuning of motor activities and procedural learning, such as cycling or typing, performed without conscious effort after practice.
Function: The network is active during rest and introspection, involved in self-referential thoughts, daydreaming and mind wandering.
Unconscious role: This network allows the integration of past experiences, planning for the future, and processing of internal states outside of conscious awareness.
Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC):
Function: DLPFC is involved in executive functions, such as working memory, decision making, and planning.
Unconscious role: While this cortex is primarily concerned with conscious processing, it also regulates unconscious processes by influencing attention and cognitive control.
Medial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC):
Function: The vmPFC is essential for emotional regulation, decision making, and social cognition.
Unconscious role: This cortex processes emotional and social information unconsciously, contributing to gut feelings and intuitive decision making.
striatum
Function: The striatum, part of the basal ganglia, is involved in reward processing, reinforcement learning and habit development.
Unconscious role: The striatum supports unconscious learning of behaviors through rewards and punishments, reinforcement of habits, and automatic responses.
Thalamus:
Function: The thalamus acts as a relay station for sensory information, and directs the sensory information to appropriate areas in the cerebral cortex.Unconscious role: The thalamus processes sensory information unconsciously, filtering and prioritizing stimuli before they reach conscious awareness.
Brain stem:
Function: The brain stem controls basic life functions such as heart rate, breathing and sleep-wake cycles.
Unconscious role: the brainstem manages automatic physiological processes and reflexes that occur without conscious thought.
Insula:
Function: The insula is involved in introspection (awareness of internal body states), emotional processing and self-awareness.
Unconscious role: the nucleus of the insula processes visceral sensations and emotions unconsciously, contributing to gut feelings and emotional reactions.
Front seat belt pretensioner (ACC)
Function: The ACC is involved in error detection, emotional regulation and cognitive control.
Unconscious role: This coil recognizes conflicts and mistakes unconsciously, guides adaptive behavior and emotional responses.
Occipital lobe:
Function: The occipital lobe is responsible for visual processing.
Unconscious role: This lobe processes visual information unconsciously, enabling rapid recognition of familiar objects and automatic visual reflexes.
Temporal lobe:
middle temporal lobe (MTL)
Function: The middle temporal lobe, including the hippocampus, is essential for memory formation and retrieval.
Unconscious role: The middle temporal lobe supports the formation of implicit memories and the unconscious recall of familiar stimuli.
Unconscious processing is not limited to isolated brain regions, but involves complex interactions between multiple regions. For example, the amygdala and prefrontal cortex work together to regulate emotional responses, with the amygdala processing emotional stimuli and the prefrontal cortex consciously and unconsciously regulating these responses. Similarly, the interaction between the hippocampus and cortical areas supports the formation and retrieval of explicit and implicit memories.
Conclusion:
Understanding the areas of the brain involved in unconscious processes highlights the complex and multifaceted nature of the unconscious. These areas work together to manage a wide range of automatic functions, from emotional responses and habit formation to sensory processing and motor coordination. Advances in neuroscience continue to reveal the complexity of these interactions, providing deeper insights into the workings of the unconscious.
Therapeutic applications in unconscious psychic material
Psychoanalytic and psychodynamic treatments:
Psychoanalytic therapy aims to bring unconscious material into awareness through techniques such as free association, dream analysis and transference interpretation. Psychodynamic therapy, an evolution of psychoanalysis, focuses on unconscious patterns in relationships and behaviors, and promotes insight and emotional growth.
Cognitive-behavioral approaches:
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) treats unconscious thinking biases and automatic thoughts that contribute to maladaptive behaviors and emotional distress. Techniques such as cognitive restructuring and exposure therapy help people change unconscious patterns and develop healthier coping strategies.
Treatments based on "mindfulness" and "acceptance and commitment":
These treatments emphasize awareness and acceptance of the present moment and acceptance of unconscious thoughts and feelings. These approaches foster a non-judgmental attitude towards inner experiences, and allow for psychological flexibility and resilience.
Research methodologies regarding the unconscious
Brain imaging techniques:
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) provide insights into the neural correlates of unconscious processes. These methods allow researchers to observe brain activity associated with implicit memory, emotional processing, and automatic, unconscious behaviors.
Behavioral and experimental paradigms:
Implicit association tests (IAT), priming tasks, and subliminal message experiments are used to study cognition and unconscious behavior. These paradigms reveal how unconscious biases and associations influence decision making and social interactions.
Longitudinal and intercultural studies:
Longitudinal studies track changes in unconscious processes over time, offering insights into their development and stability. Cross-cultural research examines how cultural factors shape the content and expression of unconscious material, emphasizing the universality and variability of unconscious phenomena.
Integrative models:
Future research should strive to integrate neuroscientific and psychotherapeutic models of the unconscious, and foster a holistic understanding of its role in mental health. Interdisciplinary collaboration can improve theoretical frameworks and therapeutic interventions.
technological progress
Advances in brain imaging, artificial intelligence and computational modeling hold the promise of deciphering the complexity of the unconscious. These technologies can enable more precise approaches to study and treat unconscious processes.
Understanding the unconscious has profound implications for clinical practice. Increased awareness of unconscious dynamics can improve diagnostic accuracy, treatment planning, and therapeutic outcomes. Caregivers should stay up-to-date on new research to provide evidence-based care.
Conclusion:
The subconscious remains a fundamental but enigmatic aspect of human psychology. By combining neuroscientific findings with psychotherapeutic principles, we may be able to deepen our understanding of the unconscious and its influence on behavior, cognition and emotion. Ongoing research and clinical innovation will likely continue to illuminate the complex workings of the unconscious, and offer new ways to promote mental health and well-being.
Dijksterhuis, A., & Meurs, L. (2006). A theory of unconscious thought.Psychological Science, 1(2), 97-102. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/2066/55863
It turns out that developing awareness of unconscious thoughts can be challenging, because these thoughts operate below the conscious level. However, there are a number of strategies and techniques that can help people identify and connect with their unconscious thought processes:
Mindfulness and meditation: Practicing mindfulness can help people become more aware of their thoughts and feelings, including those that arise unconsciously. Meditation encourages non-judgmental observation of thoughts, which can reveal underlying patterns.
Journaling: Writing down thoughts and feelings can sometimes help bring unconscious thoughts to the surface. Free writing or a "stream of consciousness" style journal allows for the exploration of ideas without self-censorship.
Dream Analysis: Keeping a dream journal and reflecting on dreams can provide insight into unconscious thoughts and desires, as dreams often reflect our subconscious.
Creative activities: Engaging in creative pursuits (such as art, music, or writing) can facilitate the expression of unconscious thoughts. The creative process often allows the emergence of ideas that are not immediately accessible through conscious thought.
Therapy and counseling: Working with a therapist can help people explore their unconscious thoughts. Techniques such as free association in psychoanalysis can reveal hidden thoughts and feelings.
Reflection and self-examination: Taking time to reflect on decisions and feelings can help identify patterns that may stem from unconscious thinking. Questions like why I feel a given thing a certain way can lead to deeper insights.
Distraction techniques: Engaging in activities that allow the mind to wander (such as walking or showering, etc.) can lead to moments of insight where unconscious thoughts arise.
Feedback from others: Sometimes, discussing thoughts and feelings with trusted friends or colleagues can help uncover unconscious biases or beliefs that a person may not be aware of.
Body Awareness: Paying attention to physical sensations and feelings can provide clues about unconscious thoughts. The body often reacts to thoughts and feelings before they are consciously recognized.
Intuition and Gut Feelings: Learning to trust and explore intuitive feelings can provide access to unconscious thought processes. Reflecting on why we feel a certain way about a decision can reveal underlying thoughts.
Hence, perhaps by using these strategies, it is possible to increase awareness of unconscious thoughts and better understand how these thoughts influence behavior and decision-making.
We will now move on to our model for understanding the "self"
The model includes the "primary self" and the "secondary self".
We will first refer to the primary self (Biological Predestined Core): the primary self consists of innate biological structures and instincts that form the innate basis of personality and cognitive processes. This self has its own dynamics during a person's life and is subject to changes with age, following diseases, traumas, drug consumption, addiction, etc.
Both the instincts and the basic needs vary from one person to another – in addition, the instincts change according to different periods of development and aging – (hence their effect on behavior) and may, as mentioned above, change through drugs, trauma, diseases and more. Within the primary self there is the potential for instrumental abilities that are innate, but they can also be promoted, or on the contrary, suppressed through the influence of the reference groups. The primary self also has cognitive abilities that are partly innate and partly dependent on interactions with the environment during the first years of life.
Apparently, they can be damaged or changed as a result of drug use, trauma, illness, aging. In addition, the primary self includes the temperament and emotional intelligence that are partly innate and partly dependent on interactions with the environment in the first years of life. And finally, it includes an energy charge that is mostly innate but can be suppressed through the influence of reference groups, as well as through situational factors. The primary self also includes the six Individual Sensitivity Channels (ISC): sensitivity channels that are individual in their strength and impact and reflect the individual's reactivity to stressors (both external and internal).
So far we have identified six sensitivity channels: 1. Sensitivity regarding a person's status and position (Status Channel) 2. Sensitivity to changes in norms (Norm Channel) 3. Sensitivity regarding emotional attachment to others (Attachment Channel) 4. Sensitivity to threat (Threat Channel) 5. Sensitivity for routine changes (Routine Channel) 6. Sensitivity to a decrease in energy level and the ability to act derived from it (Energy Channel).
PICTURE 14
Image depicting the theoretical model underlying RGFT
From the primary self, a superstructure or "secondary self" is developed through the interaction of the baby and later the person during his life with the figures around him, which is the "social self" of the individual consisting of the internalization of influential figures in his life, arranged in a hierarchical order [we called the group of these internalizations metaphorically the directorate of the internalized characters or the board of the internalized characters] and there is a continuous dialogue between them and sometimes even conflicts, while one or more internalized characters have the greatest influence on the attitudes, feelings and behavior of the individual, a character or characters that we called "the leader – selves" [a figure formerly also called the "dictator – self", see previous conversations].
This leader or leaders can also impose a certain censorship about what will enter or be expressed in the interrelationships in the board of internalized characters.
We note that the events and characters in the external world maintain a kind of dialogue with the internalized characters and may affect the expression and sometimes even the hierarchy of the characters in the board of internalized characters.
In addition, it is possible that, similar to short-term memory, parts of which are transferred to long-term memory, also when it comes to the internalization of characters, there is a short-term internalization that, depending on the circumstances, the importance and duration of the character's influence, will eventually be transferred to a long-term internalization in the set of internalized characters.
Below is the structure of the [secondary] social self: This secondary self consists of "secondary selves" which include the following types:
1) The variety of "representations of the self" that originate from attitudes and feelings towards the self and its representations in different periods of life. These also include a reflective "representation of the self" that has a certain and rather limited ability to observe the actions of behavior and the mental life of the person [probably also on the representation of the reflective secondary self there is a certain censorship of the leaders of the introverted board in the context of what the person will be aware of or not.
This is how the reflective self observes the behavior of the person and his observation is accepted by the board and it is possible that the entire result of the observation is accepted by the board and affects him, then the board and especially its leaders allow some to become aware and some not].
2] Representations of internalized characters that originate from the significant characters that the person was exposed to during his life, but as mentioned, there may also be imaginary characters represented in books, movies, etc. that greatly influenced the person.
3] internalized representations of "subculture" [subculture refers to social influences in the environment in which a person lives and are not necessarily related to a specific person]. We note that the individual is not aware that his actions, feelings and attitudes are caused by the dynamic relationships between these structured characters.
dynamic Directorate of internalized figures—drawing with the aid of AI
We will add that internalized key figures [usually human], usually refer to the significant people in a person's life who played central roles in shaping his beliefs, values and self-concept. These figures may include family members, friends, mentors, teachers, or any other influential person who has left a lasting impression on the person's psyche. Sometimes, these will also include historical, literary and other figures that left a noticeable mark on the person and were internalized by him.
The term "internalized" implies that the influence of these key figures has been absorbed and integrated into the individual's thoughts, attitudes, and behaviors. This internalization occurs through the process of observing, interacting with, and learning from these important people. As a result, the individual may adopt certain values, perspectives, and approaches to life that reflect those of the influential figures.
These internalized figures can serve as guiding forces in decision-making, moral thinking and emotional regulation. Positive influences can contribute to a person's well-being, security and resilience, while negative influences can lead to internal conflicts or challenges in personal development. Recognizing and understanding the influence of internalized human key figures is essential to self-awareness and personal growth.
It allows people to evaluate the values they hold, question assumptions, and make informed decisions about the kind of person they want to be. In addition, the awareness of these internalized influences can contribute to building healthier relationships and fostering positive relationships with others.
We note that the RGFT [Reference Group Focused Therapy] treatment method was developed on this theoretical basis. See about this method in detail in previous conversations.
Now, the subconscious is a vast reservoir of thoughts, memories and influences that shape our behavior without our awareness. Some have compared it to that part of a glacier that is below the water level, while the conscious part is visible to the eye above this level.
Simulating the unconscious with the help of AI
The interrelationships between the internalized figures and the channels of sensitivity shape, among other things, the dynamic nature of the subconscious. The leader self whose existence is usually unconscious often dictates which characters and attitudes will be accepted or rejected, influencing general behavior and emotional responses.
As a rule, decisions in the brain are made as a competitive game between many influences, in the end the significant influence will be some kind of cumulative result of all the influences. This competitive game is not conscious apart from perhaps its outcome [it has the advantage of not being aware of it since it prevents conscious conflicts and saves mental energy, and apparently it is an effective evolutionary solution that allows energy saving in the decision-making process].
Within this unconscious space, the variety of characters internalized in the social self and the sensitivity channels therefore probably play central roles. It should also be mentioned that it is known today that apparently the decision is made shortly before it penetrates the conscious, which reflects the fact that the decision making process is not conscious despite our illusion that our decisions are made consciously. In conclusion it may be assumed that "what is reflected in the conscious is the result of the decision process and not the process itself".
However, we will note first that here and there it happens that we consciously notice some sense of restlessness or a type of tension or anxiety that we sometimes call intuition that apparently expresses a significant contradiction between the positions of the various internal characters and points to an internal conflict within the internalized directorate.
Secondly, we note that we are sometimes able by activating a kind of internal spotlight, for example by looking inward, perhaps in repeated meditation or mindfulness practices or especially in RGFT therapy, to transmit to the conscious mind an influence of this or that internalized figure on the board.
Finally, recognition of the unconscious influence of internalized figures and sensitivity channels is essential for therapeutic interventions. A technique such as Reference Group Focused Therapy (RGFT) can help people understand and redefine these unconscious dynamics. RGFT aims to address the inner channels of influence and sensitivity, fostering healthier relationships and personal growth.
That's it for now,
yours,
Dr. Igor Salganik and Prof. Joseph Levine
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