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A NOTE ON THE UNCONSCIOUS IN PSYCHOANALYSIS : A Review

         

The eassy ”A NOTE ON THE UNCONSCIOUS IN PSYCHOANALYSIS”, 1912 is written by the founder of Psychoanalysis,  Sigmund Freud  and it was published in 1912 .The term "unconscious" in psychoanalysis refers to an idea that is present in our consciousness that we are unaware of. This idea is frequently used to explain why psychological events, including retraction of memories, repeatedly occur. However, this theory is often challenged for venturing outside the purview of psychology and for refusing to allow psychology to account for universal realities like memory.

Thought that we are conciously aware of are referred to as being "conscious" thoughts. On the other hand, latent notions are said to be unconscious because they exist in the sub-conscious mind. Unconscious conceptions are those that, despite our ignorance, we are prepared to accept as true because of the lack of further evidence or signals.

In Bernheim's experiment, a subject is hypnotized before being startled awake. After awakening, the person is then given an instruction to carry out a specific task at a specific time, although not told why. The request, the doctor's influence, and the memory of the hypnotic state are all still unconsciously remembered. When a person is hypnotized, the notion of the action becomes an object of consciousness and becomes more active as consciousness becomes aware of it. The notion of the doctor's order also starts to function, but it's still unconscious. A post-hypnotic suggestion is a manufactured reality created in a lab. All signs of hysteria stem from the hysterical mind's active but unconscious beliefs. Analysis reveals the existence of active unconscious concepts, as is similar to how this is a key psychological aspect of all other types of neurosis. This study illustrates that the existence of a latent or unconscious idea does not necessarily indicate that it is weak, nor does its presence indicate that it is weak.

The classification of latent and unconscious mental concepts is covered throughout the text, along with a key distinction between the two categories. While unconscious ideas are examined in neurosis, latent ideas are thought to be fore-conscious. The term "unconscious" currently refers to concepts with a dynamic nature that remain separate from awareness despite their intensity and activity as well as latent ideas. The idea that consciousness may be divided into several parts and the use of conclusions from normal psychology based on sick conditions are both criticized. Based on the misuse of the word "conscious," the author claims that the existence of unconscious consciousness is an unwarranted assumption. Additionally, the article explores the distinction between fore-conscious and unconscious concepts, resulting in a conclusion regarding the functional and dynamic relationships in psychical action. The text debates whether these two forms of psychological activity are similar or fundamentally distinct at first, but it explains how and why they separate as psychological action progresses.

According to psychoanalysis, conscious awareness can be penetrated by unconscious activity but only with effort. It demonstrates that whereas fore-conscious concepts are not objected to, the unconscious idea is kept out of consciousness by living forces that oppose its receipt. The inclinations included in unconscious concepts' contents cause a revulsion against them. Every psychic act starts as an unconscious one since unconsciousness is a normal phase of psychic activity. After repulsion manifests, the line between conscious and unconscious behaviour is established. The distinction between conscious and unconscious ideas—the former of which can arise in consciousness and return at any time—gains theoretical and practical relevance.

Analyzing dreams, which are a startling comparison to the most extreme manifestations of insanity, is the foundation of psychoanalysis. An unconscious propensity present in the dreamer's mind connects with a train of thoughts that are sparked by the mind's daytime activity and kept during the night. The ideas transform, assume a different identity, and distort in order to represent the unconscious companion and take up mental space when they shouldn't.

The study of dreams has brought the unconscious into conscious awareness because it allows us to recognize "residual thoughts," or latent concepts, that may have been cognizant during waking life. During the course of the night, these thoughts are integrated into unconscious tendencies, exposed to the rules of unconscious activity, and educated on the idiosyncrasies of the unconscious. This investigation is not yet finished, and it would be difficult to explain the findings without delving into the trickiest issues with dream analysis. At first, unconsciousness seemed to be a mysterious quality of a certain psychic act, but today, it denotes that the act falls into a specific psychical category that is known to us by other significant characters. The system is shown by the indication that individual acts are forming. The name "The Unconscious," which is an acronym for the German word "Unbewusst," denotes that some of it is unconscious.

 In conclusion, Sigmund Freud's 1912 essay, "A Note On The Unconscious In Psychoanalysis," provides a vital framework for the idea of the unconscious in psychoanalysis. The importance of separating the conscious and unconscious, with a focus on the latter's complex dynamics, is emphasized in Freud's theories. He highlights the usefulness of psychoanalysis in exposing unconscious thoughts and the obstacles they encounter when they try to enter consciousness. Freud also discusses hysteria, hypnosis, and the relevance of dreams as manifestations of the unconscious, offering light on how their interpretation can offer a better understanding of a person's mind. His work continues to have an impact on understanding the complexities of the human condition, even though some of his theories have been questioned and modified through time. The complex workings of the human mind in psychology.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

MSEd, K. C. (2023). The unconscious mind. Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-the-unconscious-2796004

Nash, J., PhD. (2023). Psychoanalysis: A History of Freud’s Psychoanalytic Theory. PositivePsychology.com. https://positivepsychology.com/psychoanalysis/

What is the Unconscious in Freudian Psychoanalysis? (2023, February 18). Interesting Literature. https://interestingliterature.com/2020/03/what-is-unconscious-freud-psychoanalysis-introduction-summary/

THE BERNHEIM EFFECT (FRAGMENTS OF A THEORY OF GENERALIZED ARTIFACT) on JSTOR. (n.d.). https://www.jstor.org/stable/20685704


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