Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Subconsciousness and No Awareness01:15

Subconsciousness and No Awareness

The concept of subconscious awareness refers to the processing of information below the level of conscious thought, which significantly influences both behaviors and decisions. It is also known as waking subconscious awareness. This complex level of cognition operates without the direct awareness of the individual, facilitating rapid and simultaneous handling of multiple information streams.
An illustrative example of subconscious processing is its role in problem-solving. Often, individuals...
Freudian Psychology01:26

Freudian Psychology

Sigmund Freud, an Austrian neurologist born in 1856, significantly influenced psychology through his exploration of the unconscious mind. His interest in patients suffering from hysteria and neurosis — conditions without apparent physical causes — led him to theorize the existence of an unconscious mind, a repository for feelings and urges beyond our awareness. Freud's innovative approach included techniques such as dream analysis, free association, and attention to slips of the tongue to...
High-Level and Low-Level Awareness01:19

High-Level and Low-Level Awareness

Controlled processes in human consciousness represent high-alert mental states where individuals deliberately focus their attention on achieving specific goals. Controlled processes can be seen in situations like mastering new technology, where a person might become so absorbed that they ignore surrounding distractions. Such processes involve selective attention, requiring one to concentrate on particular elements of experience while disregarding others. These are governed by executive...
Automatic Processing and Automatic Social Behavior01:28

Automatic Processing and Automatic Social Behavior

Automatic processing refers to the cognitive operations that occur without conscious intent or awareness, playing a fundamental role in shaping social cognition and behavior. These processes enable individuals to navigate complex social environments efficiently by relying on mental shortcuts and pre-existing knowledge structures known as schemas. One of the most influential mechanisms underlying automatic processing is priming, which subtly activates mental representations through exposure to...
Understanding Consciousness01:23

Understanding Consciousness

Consciousness can be defined as the state of being aware of and able to think about one's existence, sensations, and surroundings. It encompasses two major components: awareness and arousal. Awareness pertains to the recognition of environmental stimuli and internal states. At the same time, arousal refers to the physiological readiness to engage with these stimuli, which varies significantly between states like sleep and wakefulness.
Sleep, a crucial state, is characterized by reduced physical...
Psychodynamic Perspectives on Personality01:27

Psychodynamic Perspectives on Personality

The psychodynamic perspective in psychology asserts that most personality functions operate unconsciously, outside of awareness. This means that the motives and emotions driving behavior often remain hidden, automatically buried in the unconscious mind as a defense mechanism to shield us from psychological distress. According to this theory, the unconscious mind contains thoughts, memories, and emotions that are too disturbing to face directly.
Psychodynamic theorists argue that unconscious...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Scarfone Commentary.

Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association·2026
Same author

Racker and Heimann on Countertransference: Similarities and Differences.

The Psychoanalytic quarterly·2022
Same author

Links and perspectives on the individual and the group.

The Psychoanalytic quarterly·2012
Same author

Kleinian theory.

The International journal of psycho-analysis·2012
Same author

The organizing of psychoanalysis in Britain.

Psychoanalysis and history·2011
Same author

Melanie Klein and Repression: an examination of some unpublished Notes of 1934.

Psychoanalysis and history·2009

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 20, 2026

The Adventures of Fundi Intervention Based on the Cognitive and Emotional Processing in Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder Patients
05:48

The Adventures of Fundi Intervention Based on the Cognitive and Emotional Processing in Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder Patients

Published on: June 12, 2020

Do unconscious processes affect educational institutions?

R D Hinshelwood1

  • 1Centre for Psychoanalytic Studies, University of Essex, Colchester CO4 3SQ, UK. rhinsh@essex.ac.uk

Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry
|September 18, 2009
PubMed
Summary

Unconscious psychological processes influence school and teaching dynamics. High anxiety can trigger defensive mechanisms, leading to institutionalized practices that may hinder educational effectiveness.

Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Education
  • Sociology

Background:

  • The article explores the unconscious underpinnings of educational settings.
  • It highlights how anxiety impacts both educators and students.
  • The focus is on the emergence of unconscious defensive processes in schools.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the unconscious roots of school and teaching practices.
  • To understand how anxiety contributes to defensive phenomena in educational institutions.
  • To analyze the impact of these phenomena on the educational process.

Main Methods:

  • Conceptual analysis of psychoanalytic theory applied to education.
  • Exploration of defense mechanisms in institutional contexts.
  • Discussion of cultural attitudes and common practices stemming from unconscious processes.

More Related Videos

Optogenetic Activation of Afferent Pathways in Brain Slices and Modulation of Responses by Volatile Anesthetics
08:16

Optogenetic Activation of Afferent Pathways in Brain Slices and Modulation of Responses by Volatile Anesthetics

Published on: July 23, 2020

Recording Brain Electromagnetic Activity During the Administration of the Gaseous Anesthetic Agents Xenon and Nitrous Oxide in Healthy Volunteers
14:52

Recording Brain Electromagnetic Activity During the Administration of the Gaseous Anesthetic Agents Xenon and Nitrous Oxide in Healthy Volunteers

Published on: January 13, 2018

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 20, 2026

The Adventures of Fundi Intervention Based on the Cognitive and Emotional Processing in Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder Patients
05:48

The Adventures of Fundi Intervention Based on the Cognitive and Emotional Processing in Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder Patients

Published on: June 12, 2020

Optogenetic Activation of Afferent Pathways in Brain Slices and Modulation of Responses by Volatile Anesthetics
08:16

Optogenetic Activation of Afferent Pathways in Brain Slices and Modulation of Responses by Volatile Anesthetics

Published on: July 23, 2020

Recording Brain Electromagnetic Activity During the Administration of the Gaseous Anesthetic Agents Xenon and Nitrous Oxide in Healthy Volunteers
14:52

Recording Brain Electromagnetic Activity During the Administration of the Gaseous Anesthetic Agents Xenon and Nitrous Oxide in Healthy Volunteers

Published on: January 13, 2018

Main Results:

  • High anxiety levels in schools can activate unconscious defensive processes.
  • These processes manifest as institutionalized cultural attitudes and common practices.
  • Such phenomena may not support, and can even obstruct, effective teaching and learning.

Conclusions:

  • Unconscious factors significantly shape the school environment.
  • Anxiety-driven defenses can create counterproductive institutional norms.
  • Recognizing these unconscious dynamics is crucial for improving educational outcomes.