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Myths about the Unconscious Mind
What we believe about the mind depends on the model we hold. So in some sense whatever we believe about the unconscious mind could be considered a myth.
However, I'm sure that there are some myths about the unconscious mind that are not supported by reasonable models.
What's the most outstanding, unfounded, myth about the unconscious mind that you've come across? Held by the general public or hypnotists.
However, I'm sure that there are some myths about the unconscious mind that are not supported by reasonable models.
What's the most outstanding, unfounded, myth about the unconscious mind that you've come across? Held by the general public or hypnotists.
Tags: mind, model, myth, unconscious
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Adrian Tannock on -
To me it's simply a reification, so I think the myth is that the "unconscious mind" exists at all.
Cheers,
Adrian
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Permalink Reply by Michael Zappellini on -
Hi Walt and Adrian,
I couldn't agree more with you Adrian.
Cheers
Michael
Adrian Tannock said:To me it's simply a reification, so I think the myth is that the "unconscious mind" exists at all.
Cheers,
Adrian
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Permalink Reply by Graham Old on -
That it exists?
_________________
Graham Old
Solution-focused Hypnotherapy
Northampton and throughout Northants
www.forwardtherapy.co.uk
www.howtodoinductions.com
EDIT: Ah, you guys beat me to it! :-D
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Permalink Reply by Graham Old on
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Saying that there is such a thing as "the unconscious mind" is very different to saying that some parts of the brain sometimes work outside of our conscious awareness.
Ian Jay said:If there is no 'unconscious' part of the mind (mind=brain), where do we place the actions and reactions taking place in the amigdala and the RAS? These are not conscious .....
Ian
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Permalink Reply by John Cleesattel on -
From a model standpoint, the unconscious mind represents the part of the mind we are not consciously aware of. When constructing my model of the mind, the term unconscious mind as well as the term conscious mind, did not accurately describe what exists, or what it does.
I found the judgmental mind (our decision making/moral compass/watchdog center) was aware in both conscious and unconscious states. The reactive mind is also always ready to keep us alive and react accordingly, while the analytical mind seems to be the only one that requires what we consider consciousness to operate.
So the most outstanding myth would not be if the unconscious mind exists, but rather, that the unconscious mind is a mind unto itself instead of a conglomeration of the other minds that are aware and functioning at the time.
HUH?
John
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Permalink Reply by Adrian Tannock on
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Ian Jay said:If there is no 'unconscious' part of the mind (mind=brain), where do we place the actions and reactions taking place in the amigdala and the RAS? These are not conscious .....
Ian
Hiya Ian,
As a person with your experience no doubt knows, we don't place them anywhere...
Yes, our experience of consciousness is the functioning of our brain. As the brain functions, we experience consciousness. The functioning of the brain is a process, which means we don’t have thoughts or memories, we experience in the activity of thinking, or recalling.
So, as Micheal Heap opines, a trained anatomist would be able to work out the macro and micro-anatomical properties & processes that constitute the act of waving your arm. Put energy into those processes, and the arm can’t fail to wave. At no point would the anatomist locate a wave. Nobody would ask “Where is the wave stored now?”
Similarly, it should be possible eventually for a neuroanatomist to work out structure and processes of those neuronal networks that are active when you think, remember, or simply be... Just in the same way that an anatomist can work out the processes that can cause your arm to move, it should be possible to demonstrate that putting energy into that neuronal network will cause the mind to think, remember and simply be...
At no point will the neuroanatomist ask, where is the memory stored now? And certainly at no point would a neuro-anatomist ascribe qualities to a "mind", unconscious or otherwose... According to science, we don’t have stored memories, or beliefs, or ideas, in our "unconscious mind"... We experience remembering, or believing, or thinking.
Who slams on the brakes? Our brain. Is that our mind? Well, any ascribation of attributes to our "unconscious mind" is simply a guess. Nothing more.
As I originally said: it's a reification - this cannot be denied - and all qualities ascribed to it are technically mythical. Is that really under dispute?
Cheers,
Adrian
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Permalink Reply by Paul Dennehy (Paul Dee) on -
Which are consciously , unaware....???
Graham Old said:Saying that there is such a thing as "the unconscious mind" is very different to saying that some parts of the brain sometimes work outside of our conscious awareness.
Ian Jay said:If there is no 'unconscious' part of the mind (mind=brain), where do we place the actions and reactions taking place in the amigdala and the RAS? These are not conscious .....
Ian
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Permalink Reply by Paul Dennehy (Paul Dee) on
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I'm in two minds about this LOL! Conscious or subconscious! They both exist and function as nature intended. Create new names or them if you wish. Conscious mind deals with NOW! subconscious/unconscious mind stores, and remembes everything, 'before NOW.'
John Cleesattel said:From a model standpoint, the unconscious mind represents the part of the mind we are not consciously aware of. When constructing my model of the mind, the term unconscious mind as well as the term conscious mind, did not accurately describe what exists, or what it does.
I found the judgmental mind (our decision making/moral compass/watchdog center) was aware in both conscious and unconscious states. The reactive mind is also always ready to keep us alive and react accordingly, while the analytical mind seems to be the only one that requires what we consider consciousness to operate.
So the most outstanding myth would not be if the unconscious mind exists, but rather, that the unconscious mind is a mind unto itself instead of a conglomeration of the other minds that are aware and functioning at the time.
HUH?
John
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Permalink Reply by Paul Dennehy (Paul Dee) on
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May I respectively suggest that your 'judgemental mind' is in fact the conscious mind. Your own subconscious mind is attempting , in its efforts to protect you, contriving to introduce a resistance.i.e. the judgemental mind.
oJohn Cleesattel said:From a model standpoint, the unconscious mind represents the part of the mind we are not consciously aware of. When constructing my model of the mind, the term unconscious mind as well as the term conscious mind, did not accurately describe what exists, or what it does.
I found the judgmental mind (our decision making/moral compass/watchdog center) was aware in both conscious and unconscious states. The reactive mind is also always ready to keep us alive and react accordingly, while the analytical mind seems to be the only one that requires what we consider consciousness to operate.
So the most outstanding myth would not be if the unconscious mind exists, but rather, that the unconscious mind is a mind unto itself instead of a conglomeration of the other minds that are aware and functioning at the time.
HUH?
John
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Permalink Reply by Paul Dennehy (Paul Dee) on
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I'm happy to answer any questions.
Paul Dee
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Permalink Reply by Michael Ellner on -
"The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it."
— Terry Pratchett
Walt, Adrian, Ian, John, et al,
I was under the impression that the mind was a metaphor.
I think that the neuroanatomists who believe that the mind is function of the brain are blinded by their theology. Organ transplant recipients often take on tastes and desires of the organ donor which suggests at least to me the brain is not neccessary for consciousness...
I think, thinking is overrated and strive to trust my gut -
The great news is myths can heal as well as harm and we can use the mind and brain as models for helping our clients help themseves.
Michael E.
"Yesterday's story is
Today's truth is
Tomorrow's myth."
— Amanda Yates
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Permalink Reply by Adrian Tannock on
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Ian Jay said:There are many models that attempt to explain and define consciousness...
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