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Why does the unconscious mind NOT process a negative?
Can some one explain to me exactly why the unconscious mind does not process a negative?
It seems if it doesnt process a negative, then we wouldnt have negatives...maybe?....I'm kind of
confused on this and was asked in a group session. I was baffeled and had no real answer to give.
Thank You, Carol
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Michael Ellner on -
Hi Carol,
I disagree with the widely held belief/sacred cow that the mind/brain does not see and process "negatives".
Hint- Millions of NYers would be killed by cars if they didn't see and react to "Don't Walk" signals
FYI - Brain scan research suggests the brain acts on negative messages faster than on positive messages: Accentuating the Negative: Scientific American
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=accentuating-the-n...
When people are told not to notice the Stroop Effect they often do not react to the
Stroop Effect: Suggestion Reduces the Stroop Effect Raz, Amir1; Kirsch, Irving2; Pollard, Jessica3; Nitkin-Kaner, Yael3
Psychological Science, Volume 17, Number 2, February 2006 , pp. 91-95(5)
Hope this helps--
Michael
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Permalink Reply by Fable Goodman on -
I too do not agrree that the mind (unconsius or otherwise) does not process negatives.
it is more a question of How it processes them.
so when framing suggestions, one simply has to be aware of the way in which the mind is likely to process, what you are suggesting. and frame your suggestions in such a way as to bring about the results you want.
Generally speaking this means painting a picture of what you do want to happen, rather than what you don't want to happen.
but of course there are lot's of ways of using negatives, to a positive advantage
"pay no attention to that man behind the curtain!"
Love and hugs,
Fable
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Permalink Reply by Graham Old on -
It does process negatives. It's just happy to ignore them, whereas the conscious mind needs a reason/ideal/belief/excuse to ignore them.
Having said that, as a model I don't really object to them. It's just more the case that the subconscious mind can/does handle them differently.
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Permalink Reply by John Cleesattel on -
Depending on just what you consider the "unconscious" mind to be, I think may hold the answer to your question.
The Judgmental mind (decision/judgment center) is the gateway to the reactive mind (the cause and effect mind). The judgmental mind is what either allows or disallows outside input to be reacted to (which is why it is also referred to as the watchdog).
A negative input would be to not remember the number 6, (which is done all the time on stage shows) The suggestion causes the judgmental mind to block the outside input that would cause automatic reaction, and block access to memory as to the existence of the number itself.
A strong indicator that the judgmental mind does this, is that permission is required for it to work. If not specifically, then generically for the session or stage show. If this permission is not given, the effect doesn't work.
The reactive mind has no intellect, it just automatically reacts to the input it is allowed to receive.
I hope this helps your understanding
John
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Permalink Reply by Michael Ellner on
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If this permission is not given, the effect doesn't work.
How do you know John?
I ask because according the the research cited below tthe effect worked perfectly with highly suggestibles and
even more amazing the suggestion not to notice the Stroop Effect worked with and without induced trance --
Stroop Effect: Suggestion Reduces the Stroop Effect Raz, Amir1; Kirsch, Irving2; Pollard, Jessica3; Nitkin-Kaner, et al,
John Cleesattel said:Depending on just what you consider the "unconscious" mind to be, I think may hold the answer to your question.
The Judgmental mind (decision/judgment center) is the gateway to the reactive mind (the cause and effect mind). The judgmental mind is what either allows or disallows outside input to be reacted to (which is why it is also referred to as the watchdog).
A negative input would be to not remember the number 6, (which is done all the time on stage shows) The suggestion causes the judgmental mind to block the outside input that would cause automatic reaction, and block access to memory as to the existence of the number itself.
A strong indicator that the judgmental mind does this, is that permission is required for it to work. If not specifically, then generically for the session or stage show. If this permission is not given, the effect doesn't work.
The reactive mind has no intellect, it just automatically reacts to the input it is allowed to receive.
I hope this helps your understanding
John
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Permalink Reply by Licentious Maladay on -
Hi Carol,
Here is how the concept was described to me: think of a parent saying, "Don't spill your drink" to their child. In order to process that command, the child has to imagine spilling their drink. That imagining is a subconscious process, so now the child has the image of spilling their milk in the subconscious, which makes it much MORE likely to happen.
Another example: imagine you're playing a midway game at the state fair. You have the pellet rifle raised and you're about to shoot the little star that wins you the stuffed animal. Why is the barker saying, "Don't be nervous. Don't miss," unless he knows that raising the issue of nervousness is all it takes to make your hand shake?
Others may have a lot more knowledge than I on this subject, but that's what I was taught.
Lic
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Permalink Reply by AJ on -
Carol,
Mind contains memories and simply holds raw unprocessed data in storage. The brain translates, interprets and offers meaning to this data. It is capable of processing concepts like "no" and has the ability to analyze, judge and rationalize thoughts, emotions and behaviors.
Doc
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Permalink Reply by AK. RATHOD PsychoHypnotist INDIA on -
To, Carol Sanders, from A.K. Rathod,
On Negative Processing.
We know that we have good habits as well as BAD HABITS too. Bad habits or say negative , unwanted bad habits are processed by the Mind and stored in unconscious stuff.
So I don't think we never process a negative thought , idea, image, conditioning in our habitual behavior.
Good or bad, positive or negative is decided by our logic and analytical mind [conscious mind].
But for subconscious mind there is no discrimination of good/bad, positive/negative . It simply activates the stored conditioned pattern of behavior as automatic habit.
visit brain gym India. for mind programming.
A.K. Rathod
India
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Permalink Reply by Ian Collins on -
Thee problem here is that mind processes ANY information. Im makes a "negative" suggestion vivid in order to understand it.
The beauty of mind is, that it can always give answer to any form of suggestion/question.
It is continuous researching the "database" in order to recognize familiarity.
Negative suggestion becomes "familiar" for the mind and mind focuses on that. It recognizes the negative suggestion and focuses on it. So it works perfectly. Always.
It's like with math. What is "zero"? What is -234? For the mind it always "is something" and the concept of noexistence is represented by existance.
The point is not which suggestion is "negative" or "positive" but which suggestion is "vivid" or "blurred". The focus is the thing that really matters.
Mind always works towards things it concentrates on. And negativity is somehow "abstract" and has to be represented in a "positive form".
If you have some doubts ask yourself the following question and use logic as much as possible:
"what is this thing you are not thinking about now"?
Maybe grammar is not perfect but you can grab the concept.
You CAN NOT answer this question because you can not make any judgement on a thing which IS NOT in your mind in this moment.
In order to understand it- your mind needs to create it.
Take Care
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Permalink Reply by James Hazlerig on -
First off, I don't believe that the UM never processes a negative (or that it ignores all negatives). Some get through and some don't.
The problem with giving a negative suggestion is that you have to think of something in order to negate it. The classic example is, "Don't think of pink elephants right now. Whatever you do, don't picture those big pink elephant ears, or that hot pink elephant trunk, or even pink toenail polish on those big pink elephant toes."
Most people will of course picture pink elephants at that point. The ones who don't are the ones making a conscious effort to picture purple monkeys, or something more bizarre.
Of course, it's possible for the unconscious mind to accept and act on a negative suggestion, but I think you're generally more effective if you phrase most of your suggestions positively.
When you think about the idea of embedded suggestions, using negatives gets really interesting, because you can embed a suggestion into a negative statement: Now, I'm not saying that you should think about how hypnosis can help you in your life . . .
If you believe that you tend to attract what your mind focusses on, you might be amused by this story: A friend of mine chose an organizational mantra that went "We're building a group with no drama, no politics, no backstabbing, no kidding!" She had everyone chant this at every meeting. Of course, her efforts at harmony dissolved in a morass of drama, politics, and backstabbing.
My two cents,
James
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Permalink Reply by Ian Collins on
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Great example:)
James Hazlerig said:First off, I don't believe that the UM never processes a negative (or that it ignores all negatives). Some get through and some don't.
The problem with giving a negative suggestion is that you have to think of something in order to negate it. The classic example is, "Don't think of pink elephants right now. Whatever you do, don't picture those big pink elephant ears, or that hot pink elephant trunk, or even pink toenail polish on those big pink elephant toes."
Most people will of course picture pink elephants at that point. The ones who don't are the ones making a conscious effort to picture purple monkeys, or something more bizarre.
Of course, it's possible for the unconscious mind to accept and act on a negative suggestion, but I think you're generally more effective if you phrase most of your suggestions positively.
When you think about the idea of embedded suggestions, using negatives gets really interesting, because you can embed a suggestion into a negative statement: Now, I'm not saying that you should think about how hypnosis can help you in your life . . .
If you believe that you tend to attract what your mind focusses on, you might be amused by this story: A friend of mine chose an organizational mantra that went "We're building a group with no drama, no politics, no backstabbing, no kidding!" She had everyone chant this at every meeting. Of course, her efforts at harmony dissolved in a morass of drama, politics, and backstabbing.
My two cents,
James
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Permalink Reply by Bruce Taylor C.Ht on -
All great points, my belief is in the same realm of Licentious, Ian and James's answers. Also like Licntious's examples. Again, all great points. That is why I love this site.
Bruce Taylor
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