Freud's Psychoanalytic Theory: Unconscious Mind

Introduction

• Series Introduction: First video in series on Freud's psychoanalytic theory
• Focus: Freud's ideas on the unconscious mind

Topographical Model of the Mind (1900-1905)

• Distinguishes between the abstract mind vs. the biological brain
• Analogy of an iceberg to describe the mind

Levels of Consciousness

1. Consciousness

• Definition: Immediate awareness, current focus of attention (10% of the mind)
• Function: Takes input from senses, analyzes info, makes decisions

2. Pre-conscious (Subconscious)

• Definition: Storehouse of remembered experiences and impressions
• Function: Contains thoughts and feelings not currently aware of, but easily brought to mind
  • Example: Recalling what you had for dinner last night
• Characteristics: Includes mild emotional experiences, but traumatic experiences may be repressed
  • Mental waiting room for thoughts until they attract conscious attention
  • Freud (1924): Described as available memory

3. Unconscious

• Definition: Contains buried thoughts, memories, primitive and instinctual desires; deepest part of the mind
• Influence: Substantial impact on behavior, despite being unretrievable from conscious awareness
• Freud (1915): Unconscious processes, repressed through defense mechanisms like repression, lock away frightening or painful events/desires
  • Unconscious mind governs behavior more than people suspect
  • Goal of psychoanalysis: Bring unconscious to conscious to address repressed experiences
• Freud: Unconscious mind is the primary source of human behavior; personal essence is shaped by experiences not in conscious awareness

Conclusion

• Invitation for feedback on Freudian ideas
• End of video