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Related Concept Videos

Dreaming01:30

Dreaming

Sigmund Freud revolutionized our understanding of dreams by proposing that they are a window into the unconscious mind. According to Freud, dreams are not mere stories our minds create while we sleep but are profoundly meaningful narratives about our hidden desires and fears. He introduced two key concepts: manifest content and latent content. The manifest content is the actual content and imagery of the dream — what we remember when we wake up. The latent content, however, represents the...
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...
Jung's Analytical Theory01:23

Jung's Analytical Theory

Carl Jung, a Swiss psychiatrist and former follower of Freud, eventually broke away from Freud's ideas to create his framework, analytical psychology. This approach emphasizes achieving a balance between the conscious and unconscious aspects of the mind and reconciling various experiences within an individual's personality. Jung believed that this process, which typically unfolds in the latter part of life, involves an ongoing journey of recognizing and incorporating unconscious elements into...
Structure of Self01:29

Structure of Self

Sigmund Freud's model of the human psyche is often illustrated using an iceberg analogy. The iceberg's visible tip represents the conscious mind, which includes thoughts and perceptions that individuals are immediately aware of. However, the larger, submerged portion of the iceberg represents the unconscious mind, a reservoir of repressed desires, instincts, and memories. According to Freud, human behavior is primarily shaped by this hidden realm.
Components of the Mind: Id, Ego, and Superego
Nonconscious Mimicry01:13

Nonconscious Mimicry

Nonconscious mimicry occurs when individuals alter their mannerisms to match the behaviors and expressions of those nearby, without intention.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 30, 2026

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

Published on: June 12, 2020

Simulating the unconscious.

Mikkel Borch-Jacobsen1

  • 1Univ. of Washington, Seattle.

Psychoanalysis and History
|August 23, 2011
PubMed
Summary

Researchers question hypnosis objectivity, exploring if subjects merely comply with expectations. This study suggests abandoning the unconsciousness postulate for a constructivist approach acknowledging psychological artifacts.

Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Hypnosis Research
  • History of Science

Background:

  • The concept of hypnosis has historically relied on the postulate of unconsciousness to ensure objectivity.
  • Researchers have grappled with methodological anxiety regarding subject compliance and simulation in hypnosis studies.
  • Key figures like Charcot, Freud, and Orne addressed the concern that hypnotic phenomena might be artifacts.

Observation:

  • The assumption of unconsciousness was used to validate hypnotic phenomena, preventing them from being viewed as mere artifacts.
  • This postulate served to guarantee the objectivity of psychological research, particularly in the context of hypnosis.
  • Historical responses to the simulation question consistently invoked the idea of an unconscious state.

Findings:

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Creating Virtual-hand and Virtual-face Illusions to Investigate Self-representation
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Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 30, 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

Creating Virtual-hand and Virtual-face Illusions to Investigate Self-representation
06:53

Creating Virtual-hand and Virtual-face Illusions to Investigate Self-representation

Published on: March 1, 2017

  • The paper examines historical uses of the unconsciousness postulate in psychology and hypnosis.
  • It argues for the abandonment of the objectivist stance in favor of a constructivist approach.
  • Psychic productions should be recognized as artifacts rather than being denied.
  • Implications:

    • Adopting a constructivist framework can lead to a more accurate understanding of psychological phenomena.
    • This shift challenges traditional views of hypnosis and psychotherapy.
    • Recognizing the artifactual nature of psychic productions offers new avenues for research and clinical practice.