The nature of the unconscious - what do you think?

In the psychoanalytic clinic it is a given that unconscious processes have a profound influence on the subject's experience of mental life. In this regard hypnosis and psychoanalysis are, I think, very much alike. Indeed, Freud used hypnosis prior to his discovery of free-association as a clinical tool.

Over time many definitions and explanations of the unconscious have been suggested, from Kant's claim that it is "half a world" to Sartre's refusal to believe that such a thing actually exists ("We apprehend everything, but we do not comprehend everything"). Freud saw the unconscious as being constructed of "thing" representations whereas Lacan claimed that it was structured like a language.

I am interested in what you guys and gals think. What is the unconscious? Why is the unconscious? And (for the very adventurous) where is the unconscious?

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Permalink Reply by Donne on August 14, 2008 at 5:10pm

I think any understanding as to the nature of the unconscious needs to be considered in relationship to the Soul, or Higher Self. (Super Ego for Freud). The three, conscious, unconscious and higher consciousness, operate as a trinity within the unity of Self/Soul.
Under hypnosis, therapists have had direct communication with the unconscious self and have recieved insigh in to problems experienced by the conscious self. Occasionally, 'flashes' of the unconscious self come through under hypnosis or drugs, notably LSD.
As to where...I have been trying to gain an understanding of this for many years. It involves an aceptance, at least, ot the multidimensional reality of life. The unconscious self exists in its own reality that also interpenetrates the one we perceive as our conscious reality.
The best analogy I can think of is as an actor plays a part on stage, his real self exists 'behind' and within, the 'self' of the character he plays in the stage reality.
Hope this helps. English is an inadequate language for conveying such concepts.

Useful references: Secret Science of Miracles' Max Freedom Long. (Huna science and philosphy)
The Nature of Personal Reality and Education of Oversoul Seven. Jane Roberts.
Works of Carl Jung.
Destiny of Souls/Journey of Souls. Michael Newton.

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Permalink Reply by bruce on August 14, 2008 at 9:35pm

Hi Philco...

Just a tidbit. I think it was Wilhelm Reich who first formulated the equation that the subconcious/unconcious = the body. A brilliant and strange man...

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Permalink Reply by bruce on August 14, 2008 at 9:37pm

Hey Donne,

It seems to me that people are starting to use the word "transpersonal conciousness" for what you're describing... just thought I'd through something else into the mix (hehe). What do you think? Accurate?

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Permalink Reply by Donne on August 14, 2008 at 11:30pm

Very accurate.
I was pushed for time this morning when I was writing, would have thought of the term..........eventually.:)
At least 'Transpersonal Consciousness', acknowledges that there is something more to consciousness than what the materialists and scientific psychologists recognise.
I've found the name for the workshop I'm trying to create now. Thanks :)

Note on W. Reich. He found that negative mental ideas/complexes were also stored in the physical body. Massage and bodywork released these from the body and also from the mind, far better than years of couch bound psychoanalysis. This fits in with the Huna science that the unconscious/Lower self, is responsible for the body and its energy. You wont find Reich mentioned in any university text book in psychology, and Jung only briefly.

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Permalink Reply by Philco on August 15, 2008 at 3:02am

You are correct - Jung is greaty undervalued in academia and Reich has all but vanished!

It's great that we are also now factoring-in the spiritual dimension. I didn't want to raise the topic myself, as one is accustomed to being thought of as kooky when adding this element to a scientific discourse. But the essential unfolding spirit of the human subject should not be ignored (as it is being in the mainstream academic world, generally speaking).

But Donne, I wouldn't dismiss psychoanalysis so readily - on a daily basis I deal with people who have seen astonishing results from "the couch" - and although the treatment takes longer than most the effects are very far-reaching. Also, as we exist in language, for some people no other treatment can ameliorate their woes. Also, in my experience, people undergoing psychoanalysis often see dramatic and fast improvements but stay in analysis for a long time to consolidate the improvement -- or sometimes just to understand why they are who they are.

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Permalink Reply by Sue on August 15, 2008 at 1:57pm

I think that literally, "subconscious" refers to that which is below the conscious level, whereas "unconscious" implies that of which you are not conscious, or aware. It's just a matter of symantics and as you said, the words are interchangable and a matter of personal preference. In my NLP training we used the term "unconscious".

As far as what the unconscious mind is......the way it has been explained to me, is that it is what takes care of the details. It is our autopilot when we have learned a task so well that we no longer have to pay attention to how to do it. For example, do you think about what is involved in opening a door? It is a many step process requiring getting up, walking over to the door, grabbing the doorknob, turning it, pushing the door open and walking out. And I know for a fact that I drive unconsciously---much to the dismay of my insurance agent.

As someone else mentioned, the unconscious mind is what takes in all the sensory stimuli and sorts it out into what we need to use in that particular moment in time. It would indeed be overload if we were conscious of everything. It is what helps us to do things we weren't specifically taught to do, yet somehow know instinctively how to do them. It is also what would during a test, let me hear the music that was on while I was studying, see the page in the book, where the answer was on the page--everything BUT the answer.

I believe some people are more attuned to their unconscious. There is a link between their conscious and unconscious, and subsequently the collective unconscious of the universe. I think that's how some people have ESP and some of those other mysterious and controversial abilities. We can all communicate with our unconscious mind. We can ask it to help us solve problems, although we won't get a verbal answer. I think it our "intuition" and also our "conscience". Sometimes we just don't choose to listen.

Since the unconsious is like a recording device, it takes in information without the filters through which we receive sensory input consciously. Our conscious mind processes what we see and hear on a level that is a product of our experiences and understanding. The unconscious is very literal and does not process negatives. I have noticed this at work. I work in a doctor's office and we have a closet where you would expect a washroom. The door is locked, but the patients still try to get in. We put up a sign that said, "This is not a washroom" to no avail. I suggested we put up a sign that said "This is a closet." And voila, suddenly nobody tried to open the door. This is why affirmations are always expressed in the positive. If you were to say to yourself "I don't want to be fat", the unconscious mind would take out the "not" and your diet would more than likely be ineffective.

I have hear the conscious mind referred to as "the map" while the unconscious mind is the "territory". Wouldn't it be great if we came equipped with GPS for our brains!!

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Permalink Reply by Philco on August 16, 2008 at 5:05am

Bruce - I love the term "transpersonal consciousness."

It's great when you find a phrase which perfectly sums up and signifies what you have being trying to express!

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Permalink Reply by Philco on August 16, 2008 at 5:30am

Very interesting. I think we do store everything away, from the tiniest somatic impression right through to the obvious big stuff.

The differential between memory and recall would make for an interesting discussion also. I suppose Freud's great contribution was the notion that we can know without knowing so that we may live.